Beriev A-50
| A-50 Shmel | |
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| Role | Airborne Early Warning and Control |
| Manufacturer | Beriev |
| First flight | 1978 |
| Introduction | 1984 |
| Status | In service |
| Primary users | Russian Air Force Indian Air Force |
| Number built | around 40 |
| Developed from | Ilyushin Il-76 |
The Beriev A-50 (NATO reporting name: Mainstay) is a Russian airborne warning and control system (AWACS) aircraft based on the Ilyushin Il-76 transport. Developed to replace the Tupolev Tu-126 'Moss', the A-50 first flew in 1978. It entered service in 1984, with about 40 produced by 1992.
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[edit] Description
The mission personnel of the 15-man crew derive data from the large Liana surveillance radar with its antenna in an over-fuselage rotordome, which has a diameter of 29 ft 9 in (9.00 m).
The A-50 can control up to 10 fighter aircraft for either air-to-air intercept or air-to-ground attack missions. The A-50 is capable of flying for 4 hours at 1000 km from its base at a maximum takeoff weight of 190 tons. The aircraft can be refuelled by Il-78 tankers,[1][2] although some sources indicates flight tests showed that aerial refueling was all but impossible because the rotodome would hit turbulence from the tanker, causing severe buffeting.[3]
The radar "Vega-M" is designed by MNIIP, Moscow, and produced by NPO Vega. The "Vega-M" is capable of tracking up to 50 targets simultaneously within 230 kilometers. Large targets, like surface ships, can be tracked at a distance of 400 km.
The first A-50U was delivered to the Russian Air Force on October 31, 2011. The aircraft incorporates an improved radar and a digital avionics suite.[4]
[edit] Variants
- A-50M - Modernized Russian Version fitted with mid-air refueling capability.[5]
- A-50U - updated Russian variant[6]
- Izdeliye-676[7] - One-off stop-gap telemetry and tracking aircraft.
- Izdeliye-776[7] - One-off stop-gap telemetry and tracking aircraft.
- Izdeliye-976 (SKIP)[7] - (СКИП - Самолетный Контрольно-Измерительный Пункт, Airborne Check-Measure-and-Control Center) - Il-76 based Range Control and Missile tracking platform. Initially built to support Raduga Kh-55 cruise missile tests.Has fixed radar cover filled with other equipment and glassed navigator cockpit, (One prototype and five production conversions).
- Izdeliye-1076[7] - One-off special mission aircraft with unknown duties.
- A-50I - variant with Israeli Phalcon radar, designed for China but project cancelled under pressure of United States
- A-50E/I - With Aviadvigatel PS-90A-76 engines, with Israeli Phalcon radar made for the Indian Air Force [8]
- KJ-2000 - Chinese variant with a domestic radar based on the A-50I airframe
[edit] Operators
- Russian Air Force - 26 А-50М in service[9] + (at least)one A-50U [10]
- Indian Air Force - 3 operational, RFP for 2 more sent to IAI for the IAI Phalcon AEW&C radar system to be mounted on the A-50 [1].
[edit] Specifications (A-50)
General characteristics
- Crew: 15
- Length: 49.59m (152 ft 8 in)
- Wingspan: 50.50 m (165 ft 6 in)
- Height: 14.76 m (48 ft 5 in)
- Wing area: 300 m² (3,228 ft²)
- Empty weight: 75,000 kg (165,347 lb)
- Max. takeoff weight: 170,000 kg (374,786 lb)
- Powerplant: 4 × Aviadvigatel PS-90A turbofan, 157 kN (35,200 lbf) each
Performance
- Maximum speed: 900 km/h (559 mph)
- Range: 6,400 km (3,977 mi)
- Service ceiling: 12,000 m (39,371 ft)
[edit] See also
Related development: Ilyushin Il-76, KJ-2000
Comparable aircraft: E-3 Sentry
[edit] References
- ^ http://i597.photobucket.com/albums/tt58/shanksinha/A50b.jpg
- ^ http://i597.photobucket.com/albums/tt58/shanksinha/A50.jpg
- ^ [Ilyushin IL-76, Russia's Versatile Airlifter, Aerofax]
- ^ http://www.key.aero/view_news.asp?ID=4331&thisSection=military
- ^ Russia modernizes fleet of A-50M AWACS planes
- ^ Photo of prototype A-50U (37 RED) on which the state joint tests of the modernised complex were conducted.
- ^ a b c d [Gordon, Yefim, OKB Ilyushin, 2004, London]
- ^ http://en.take-off.ru/news/102-feb2011/570-a50ei-10-2010
- ^ http://www.avia.ru/news/?id=1312888153
- ^ http://en.rian.ru/mlitary_news/20111031/168297656.html
[edit] External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Ilyushin Il-82 |
- vectorsite.net Beriev A-50
- Spyflight.co.uk - Beriev A-50 Mainstay
- Aviation.ru A-50
- Red-stars.org - A-50 Mainstay
- Source article of NVO (in Russian)
- Iranian AWACS (in Persian)
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