Urgent Express! The international military map is facing major changes again! The A-50 AWACS aircraft of the Russian Aerospace Forces suffered a tragic blow on the battlefield in Ukraine and was successfully shot down by the Ukrainian side. The news caused a chorus of jubilation in the West and Ukraine, and there were even rumors that "Russia is about to lose its all-weather air warning capability." In any case, this incident has already made the Russian Aerospace Forces lose face.
It is reported that this is the second shootdown incident over the Kra**dar Krai region of Russia on the eastern shore of the Sea of Azov, where an A-50U large AWACS aircraft crashed under a successful strike by the Ukrainian side using S-200 long-range anti-aircraft missiles. Circulating on social media ** shows that a raging fire ignited after the crash of the fuselage, which is the third A-50 lost by the Russian army in the conflict in Ukraine.
The A-50 AWACS aircraft has long been a useful tool of the Russian Aerospace Forces, but their number is limited. Allegedly, the Russian army had only 9 A-50 AWACS aircraft before the outbreak of the conflict. After this strike, the number was reduced to six, posing a serious challenge to long-term, round-the-clock surveillance covering the front lines of the conflict.
Regarding this situation, some analysts pointed out that Russia is facing the dilemma of aerial surveillance. Some voices even believe that the Russian Kremlin will have to face a difficult decision on which area of the front line will no longer be covered by airborne early warning radars. For a country, this means leaving a clear blind spot on the battlefield.
However, this does not mean that the Russian army will be helpless. In addition to the possible short-term approach of extending the time of each patrol mission of the A-50 AWACS aircraft, the Russian army has some alternative plans. Despite the poor performance of the A-50 in this conflict, the new generation A-100 large AWACS aircraft of the Russian Aerospace Forces has been completed and is expected to be delivered this year. This new AWACS aircraft is equipped with a new active phased array radar, and its performance has been significantly improved.
However, hardware is only one aspect, and the trained air managers on board the downed A-50 are also indispensable. Each A-50 usually carries about 10 experienced specialists, and the loss of these talents is undoubtedly a serious blow to Russia.
In this time of uncertainty, the development of the Russia-Ukraine conflict has attracted much attention. We will continue to pay attention to unveil the mystery of this international war, and we will bring you more in-depth interpretation and real-time information. A50 was shot down in the Russian-Ukrainian conflict military situation international war situation.