Incredibly, The Russian Air Force Has Lost Another Rare A-50 Radar Plane ( www.forbes.com )

Incredibly, the Russian air force has lost another one of its rare Beriev A-50M/U Mainstay radar early-warning planes. Video that circulated online on Friday reportedly depicts the A-50’s burning wreckage in Krasnodar Krai, in Russia just east of the Sea of Azov.

The location of the crash, at least 120 miles from the front line in southern Ukraine, could indicate the four-engine, 15-person radar plane either suffered a mechanical failure—or took a hit while operating closer to the front and tried to make it back to its base in Krasnodar before exploding.

For what it’s worth, the Ukrainian air force claimed it shot down the A-50 with assistance from the intelligence directorate in Kyiv.

Either way, it’s a devastating blow for the battered Russian air force. The air arm has lost, mostly to Ukrainian long-range surface-to-air missiles—American-made Patriot PAC-2s, in particular—nine of its best planes in just a month. Including an A-50 that the Ukrainians hit over the Sea of Azov in January.

khannie ,
@khannie@lemmy.world avatar

40 built total, some exported with roughly 7 active in the Russian air force according to Wikipedia. Cost to build around $330M.

From what I understand the reality after the last one was downed is that there were probably 4 left active with the rest being used for parts because of sanctions.

Absolutely savage work.

cabron_offsets ,

Fuck russia. And send the republican traitor filth to fight for their motherland.

theodewere ,
@theodewere@kbin.social avatar

As much as the airframe loss hurts, the loss of 15 experienced airmen might hurt worse. Russian air ops “are constrained by the availability of pilots with sufficient experience to carry out key missions,” analysts Jack Watling and Nick Reynolds wrote in a recent study for the Royal United Services Institute in London.

maybe the pilot situation is causing the high rate of airframe losses recently

nexusband ,
@nexusband@lemmy.world avatar

It's definitely not helping - especially since Russian planes are quite difficult to fly. Most of them have zero automation

shalafi ,

Is this the 2nd or 3rd?

Fapper_McFapper ,

It’s hard to keep track but I believe this is the second.

FuglyDuck ,
@FuglyDuck@lemmy.world avatar

2nd, but they ostensibly had 7 in active service. the Ukranians shot another already; and chances are there's some that are being used as parts donors for the others and so are unable to fly.

FuglyDuck ,
@FuglyDuck@lemmy.world avatar

So... has Russia started resorting to the stock piled Capiseen 38 engines?

randon31415 ,

With just two shots, Ukraine has cost Russia more money with these two A-50s than Trump was recently fined in his New York case.

Linkerbaan ,
@Linkerbaan@lemmy.world avatar

"Sir, our Radar plane has stopped showing up on the Radar"

https://lemmy.world/pictrs/image/ce2e0d85-e395-400e-bc49-f3ccdb5fdd1f.jpeg

JoMomma ,

Whoopsie

Fapper_McFapper ,

Slava Ukraini!

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