SRLDN A-50
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Beriev A-50
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Manufacturer: |
Taganrog Aircraft Production Association | ||||
Background: |
Radiolocation surveillance and control aircraft built in late 70's to replace Tupolev Tu-126 for detection of approaching bombers and guidance of the interceptors. Designed by TANTK (Beriev). Transport aircraft Ilyushin Il-76M airframe (manufactured by TAPO in Uzbekistan) were used to built two prototypes (bort numbers 10 and 20) and Il-76MD to built third prototype and serial aircrafts (30-53).
Radar and electronic equipment was prepared by Moskovskiy Nauchno-Isslyedovatyelskiy Institut Priborostroyeniya (MNIIP, Moskov Scientific-Research Institute for Instrument Engineering; now NPO Vega-M). Radar is named Shmyel (= Bumblee-bee). In 1998 new Shmyel-2 was prepared for A-50M, abandoned in 90's. Since 1990 Shmyel-M is developed for A-50U (Uproshchyenniy - Simplified). Now first A-50 is modernised to A-50U standard and undergoing flight test. Prototype for China (A-50 no 44 with civil registration RA-78740) was built with israeli Phalcon, but contract was not realised. China built a few its own AWACS using Il-76 airframes, named KJ-2000. In Iraq two Il-76 was rebuilded to experimental AWACS airpanes Adnan (now one of them is in Iran). Aircraft A-50 was sold in 2007-2008 to Indian Air Force as EI, with israeli radar Phalcon. First prototype in spring 2008 (s.n. KW-3551). | ||||
Designation | Type | Year | Bort number | Notes | |
A-1 | 1st prototype | 1978 | 10 | - | |
A-2 | 2nd prototype | ? | 20 | - | |
A-3 | 3rd prototype | ? | 30 | Pattern to serial production. | |
A-50 | serial A-50 | 1985-1993 | 30-53 | 24 serial machines were built (including third prototype) by TAPO. Are deployed at Siauliau in Lithuania (67 OAE DRLO), then at Beriozovka (144 OAP DRLO), now at Ivanovo-Syevyerniy (= Ivanovo-North) near Moskva (2457 AB BP SRLDN, Avya Baza Bojevogo Primyenyenya SRLDN = Air Base of the Combat Purpose of the Radiolocation Surveillance and Control Aircrafts).In 2008 about 20 in service. | |
976 | 976 SKIP | 1985 | SSSR-76452 SSSR-76453 SSSR-76454 SSSR-76455 SSSR-76456 | 5 machines built for LII (Flight Research Institute) at Zhukovskiy to conduct flight test of missiles and aircrafts. Ilyushin Il-76M transport aircrafts airframes were used. Aircrafts have no military instalation, except Shmyel radar of course. | |
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