AWACS/Command post aircrafts of RuAF

Development of a new "Doomsday aircraft" has begun in Russia, 22/08/2021.

The Russian aviation industry has begun work on a new "Doomsday aircraft" to replace the Il-80. This was announced on Sunday, August 22, by the head of the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation, Denis Manturov.

“Work in this direction is underway. The customer for such special vehicles is the military department, "Manturov said in an interview with Interfax , answering a question about the development of a new air command post to replace the Il-80.

The minister recalled that the aviation industry in Russia has the ability to produce aircraft of all classes, including aircraft of this purpose.

On July 26, it became known that in Voronezh, specialists began to create the latest troop control aircraft in the event of a nuclear war.

Then it was clarified that the Russian army would receive two such aircraft, but it was assumed that in the future the Ministry of Defense could order a third aircraft.

As sources in the Aerospace Forces (VKS) of the Russian Federation informed Izvestia, the project of the new "Doomsday aircraft" Il-96-400M was only at the stage of development . The interlocutor pointed out that it will be possible to talk about specific plans for the construction of a flying command post on the basis of the Il-96-400M only after the plane makes its first flight.

In the fall of 2020, it became known that the new "Doomsday aircraft" will be transferred from the Il-80 to the Il-96-400M. It is noted that the flight range of the new vehicles will double in comparison with their predecessors.

The air command and control centers were named "Doomsday planes" in the United States. The Americans believed that it was them that Russia would use in the event of a nuclear war to evacuate the country's top leadership and command and control troops in the event of the destruction of ground and satellite infrastructure. In the United States, the functions of such points are performed by the E-4B based on the Boeing 747.

https://iz.ru/1210789/2021-08-22/v-rossii-nachalas-razrabotka-novogo-samoleta-sudnogo-dnia

A-100 Premier AWACS 

Photo of Russian Il-76 transport aircraft and A-50 AEW&C aircraft at the Severny Airfield in Ivanovo

Rostec handed over to the Russian Aerospace Forces another modernized AWACS aircraft

The Russian Aerospace Forces received another updated A-50U AWACS aircraft. The transfer of the "flying radar" to the troops on the eve was carried out by the concern "Vega" and TANTK them. G.M. Beriev (both enterprises are a structural unit of the state corporation "Rostec").

It should be noted that this is the seventh aircraft received by the Russian Aerospace Forces within the framework of the program for the renewal of the AWACS aircraft fleet. The next A-50U, according to plans, will be ready by 2023.

As for the winged aircraft itself, thanks to the modernization carried out, its functionality has reached a new quality level. Now, according to the developers, the aircraft is capable of effectively detecting fundamentally new types of air objects, as well as tracking a larger number of targets.

In addition, the upgraded "flying locator" received the latest flight and navigation system, and thanks to the A-50U being equipped with modern electronics, including high-resolution LCD monitors, the working conditions of the tactical crew were significantly improved.

Finally, one more important detail. Due to the fact that the modern equipment installed on the aircraft has less weight, the time and range of combat missions have increased.

Recall that the Russian AWACS A-50 aircraft first took to the air in 1978. The Flying Locator was built on the basis of the Il-76 and was mass-produced until 1991.

https://topwar-ru.translate.goog/190700-rosteh-peredal-vks-rossii-ocherednoj-modernizirovannyj-samolet-drlo.html?_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en

https://bmpd.livejournal.com/4460167.html

A bit more info on this

https://www.scramble.nl/military-news/russian-aerospace-forces-received-seventh-modernised-a-50u

Can we assume it will be repainted?

No. That one is RF-93952...

Is there already information about one
Awacs and submarine defense on TU-214 basis?

Mig-31BM2 Super Irbis-E wrote:Is there already information about one
Awacs and submarine defense on TU-214 basis?

They said they will create such versions but nothing was released yet.

Have most A-50s had their electronics upgraded or they still use vintage 80s mechanically scanned arrays? It seems that apart from 360 coverage, the A-50's radar offers no advantages compared to the zaslon M of the MiG-31BM in terms of early warning and electronic warfare.

Why is the A-100 not in service yet? Last I heard only a 2nd prototype will be built in 2024.

limb wrote:Have most A-50s had their electronics upgraded or they still use vintage 80s mechanically scanned arrays? It seems that apart from 360 coverage, the A-50's radar offers no advantages compared to the zaslon M of the MiG-31BM in terms of early warning and electronic warfare.

Why is the A-100 not in service yet? Last I heard only a 2nd prototype will be built in 2024.

With the new long range missiles used in tandem with modern stealthy jets and modern jammers those AWACS are becoming practice targets.

And when they get photonic radar stealth will become meaningless for aircraft and weapons and targets can be detected at enormous distances again.

Russian OTH radars already provide amazing coverage of probably half the planet in their vicinity.... these AWACS types are gap fillers and probably mission managers that could coordinate the defence in specific areas.

New anti aircraft missiles will likely lead to the proliferation of self defence missiles like the 9M100 morfei.

It is the short range missile in the S-350/Redut SAM system that has a ground launched range of 10-15km with IIR guidance and a two way datalink with lock on after launch capability that they have already said will be carried by fighters and bombers. The lock on after launch means it can be fired without already having a lock on target which is ideal for aircraft with internal weapon bays like stealth fighters and bombers like Backfire, Blackjack and the new PAK DA.

An A-100 should be able to carry external pylons with a mix of R-77 and 9M100 self defence missiles...

Isos wrote:

limb wrote:Have most A-50s had their electronics upgraded or they still use vintage 80s mechanically scanned arrays? It seems that apart from 360 coverage, the A-50's radar offers no advantages compared to the zaslon M of the MiG-31BM in terms of early warning and electronic warfare.

Why is the A-100 not in service yet? Last I heard only a 2nd prototype will be built in 2024.

With the new long range missiles used in tandem with modern stealthy jets and modern jammers those AWACS are becoming practice targets.

Stealthy jets stop becoming stealthy when they turn on their radars and jammers.

Of course the A-50U is using mechanical steering in azimuth, just like the E-2 and E-3. The A-100 will use the same method.

GarryB wrote:And when they get photonic radar stealth will become meaningless for aircraft and weapons and targets can be detected at enormous distances again.

Photonic radars should be miniaturized so that they can be fitted on Russian fighter aircraft.

And when they get photonic radar stealth will become meaningless for aircraft and weapons and targets can be detected at enormous distances again.

Key word is "when". They might get the first experimental photonic radar in 2040. Or 2060. Or 2100. Or maybe never. Its always in the research phase. At this point radio photonics seems to the nuclear fusion of radars. Soething so groundbreaking that it will make every other radar obsolete, but always just a few years away.

Like a cost effective stealth plane... checkmate is supposed to be ready in 5 years or so, but who knows...

The fact that they are buying the most expensive new generation models along with the serious upgrades for older types suggests they are happy to spend money where it makes a difference and certainly their SAMs and Ships and even their tanks have new AESA type radars, but there seems to be no real rush to put them on all their aircraft.

Now you could argue that the difference in performance from a PESA to an AESA is not huge, but the price difference is significant, so they don't seem to be in a huge hurry, but one could perhaps argue a photonic radar AESA hybrid might be closer than we think and that perhaps in addition to getting new engines the next production model Su-57s might be getting a new 360 degree surface mounted radar suite too...

It was ages between the west having F-16s and F-15s and the Soviets introducing MiG-29s and Su-27s... but when they did the gap was not so important any more.

How true is it that the A-100 depended on foreign components?
https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/44145/western-sanctions-are-driving-delays-to-russias-new-a-100-radar-plane-report
Why would the byelka and nebo AESAs alrwafy be in service, but the A100 radar be delayed?
It's indisputable that the A100 keeps suffering from delays, but the bigger question is if it's not dependence on foreign components, what's the real reason?

limb wrote:How true is it that the A-100 depended on foreign components?
Why would the byelka and nebo AESAs alrwafy be in service,  but the A100 radar be delayed?
It's indisputable  that the A100 keeps suffering from delays, but the bigger question  is if it's not dependence on foreign components,  what's the real reason?

According to original story, from publication no 917 from February 1, since original project started before any sanctions on Russia, planners didn't foresee that problem with sanctions might be occuring. God knows, how much of it is right, but the fact is that the project is late. Apparently, they had problem with meeting requirements set by MoD.
For Russia, this is a new technology, since old A-50 has mechanically scanned array and it is normal that it takes more time to master. Upgrade to A-50U is mostly about digitization and new CPU.

caveat emptor wrote:

limb wrote:How true is it that the A-100 depended on foreign components?
Why would the byelka and nebo AESAs alrwafy be in service,  but the A100 radar be delayed?
It's indisputable  that the A100 keeps suffering from delays, but the bigger question  is if it's not dependence on foreign components,  what's the real reason?

According to original story, from publication no 917 from February 1, since original project started before any sanctions on Russia, planners didn't foresee that problem with sanctions might be occuring. God knows, how much of it is right, but the fact is that the project is late. Apparently, they had problem with meeting requirements set by MoD.
For Russia, this is a new technology, since old A-50 has mechanically scanned array and it is normal that it takes more time to master. Upgrade to A-50U is mostly about digitization and new CPU.

I mean even china has an awacs in large numbers which have more capable radars than the A-50U. I forgot its name, but it has 3 static AESA arrays rather than a mechanically scanned array. The fact is its terrible that Russian lacks modern AWACS because this would force Russian fighters to turn on their radars.

BS