Responding to Ukrainian missile threats: Russian Air Force nearly fully restores A-50U early-warning aircraft to frequent airborne duty
Title: Russia wary of Ukrainian missiles, deploys almost all A-50U early-warning aircraft into the sky
On August 4, RBK-Ukraine reported that Russia has significantly increased the operational frequency of its A-50U long-range early-warning aircraft to monitor airspace and counter Ukrainian cruise missiles. During the first half of June, this aircraft type hardly performed combat readiness duties. Since then, the Russian military has resumed routine flights and dispersed the aircraft to multiple rear-area airfields.
At the beginning of June, A-50Us were rarely conducting duty near the Ukrainian front line. From June 4 to June 22, only limited transfer activities were recorded, including the return-to-unit of “Red-47” after maintenance, as well as ferry flights between Vorkuta and Olenya.
After June 23, the situation changed: one A-50U began performing regular night patrols in Russia’s rear areas, primarily operating over Ulyanovsk Oblast and Samara Oblast. Within the observation period, approximately 60 sorties were completed.
The report notes that the A-50U has now become a key node in Russia’s anti-missile operations. On July 4, one A-50U played a critical role in intercepting a Ukrainian cruise missile attack.
Previously, these aircraft mainly took off from Ivanovo and Ulyanovsk airfields. Afterwards, the Russian military ceased high-frequency use of these two bases and instead dispersed the early-warning aircraft deeper into Russia’s interior. Newly activated airfields include the Great Savino Airport in Perm, Orenburg-2 Airport, and Chelyabinsk Airport.
On July 7, Russia once launched four A-50Us simultaneously—an almost complete deployment of its entire operational A-50U fleet.
Russian Military Changes A-50U Operational Strategy
Analysis suggests that within a short time, Russia transitioned from nearly grounding the A-50U fleet to high-frequency, routine deployments. This is likely intended to strengthen airspace surveillance and improve the efficiency of detecting Ukrainian missile systems.
The A-50U can detect aerial targets at long range and relay target data to air defense systems and aviation units, making it one of the core components of the air combat command system.
Over the past two weeks, Ukraine’s defense forces have nearly daily struck large-scale e-commerce warehouse facilities belonging to Russian company Wild Berry. The attacks caused damage to 17%–22% of the company’s logistics infrastructure. Additionally, Ukrainian forces continue targeting Russian oil refineries: during the night of August 2, they attacked the Saratov refinery, Engels Airport, and oil storage facilities in Kaluga Oblast.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1872564228374600/
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