Beriev A-50
| A-50 Shmel | |
|---|---|
| |
| 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.
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 indicate 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.
After completing State Joint Tests, Beriev has delivered the first upgraded Airborne Early Warning and Control aircraft to the Russian Air Force. The aircraft, '47 Red'/RF-92957 was handed over at Beriev's facility in Tanganrog on October 31, 2011.[4] It was excepted by an air crew serving with the 2457th Aviabaza Boevogo Primeneniya Samolotov Dalnego Radiolokatsionnogo Obnaruzheniya (Aviation Base for Combat Operation of Airborne Early Warning Aircraft) at Ivanovo-Severnyi, which is the only base using the A-50 operationally. The 2457th operates 16 aircraft. A second aircraft, '33 Red' is getting upgraded and is due for delivery in 2012. These are the only two production upgrades ordered to date (January 2012), but Beriev anticipates further orders.[5]
Development work on the A-50U commenced some years ago and State Tests started on September 10, 2008, using Russian Air Force A-50 '37 Red' as a prototype. The main element of the modernisation involves replacing the outdated analogue equipment with a new, digital avionics suite supplied by Russia's Vega Radio Engineering Corporation JSC. Notable improvements include: faster data processing, enhanced signal tracking and improved target detection. Crew rest, toilet and galley facilities are also included in the upgrade.[5]
These upgrades form the basis of the concept for a new production aircraft, based on the Il-476 airframe (new built Il-76MD with PS-90A76 engines). Configuration will be similar to the A-50U, but with a new Vega Premier active phased array radar.[5]
Variants
- A-50M - Modernized Russian Version fitted with mid-air refueling capability.[6]
- A-50U - updated Russian variant[7]
- Izdeliye-676[8] - One-off stop-gap telemetry and tracking aircraft.
- Izdeliye-776[8] - One-off stop-gap telemetry and tracking aircraft.
- Izdeliye-976 (SKIP)[8] - (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[8] - One-off special mission aircraft with unknown duties.
- A-50I - variant with an Israeli radar, designed for China but project cancelled under pressure of United States
- A-50E/I - With Aviadvigatel PS-90A-76 engines, with Israeli EL/W-2090 radar made for the Indian Air Force [9]
- KJ-2000 - Chinese variant with a domestic radar based on the A-50I airframe
Operators
- Russian Air Force - 26 А-50М in service[10] + (at least)one A-50U [11]
- Indian Air Force - 3 operational, RFP for 2 more sent to IAI for the EL/W-2090 AEW&C radar system to be mounted on the A-50 [1].
Specifications (A-50)
General characteristics
- Crew: 15
Performance
See also
Related development: Ilyushin Il-76, KJ-2000
Comparable aircraft: E-3 Sentry
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
- ^ a b c "Beriev delivers first upgraded A-50U Mainstay". Air Forces Monthly. January 2012. Issue 286. p.28.
- ^ 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
External links
