The Taganrog Aviation Scientific and Technical Complex named after G. M. Beriev has completed the modernization of the first combat aircraft for long-range radar detection A-50. Already in June of this year, TANTK is ready to return the aircraft to the Russian Air Force. Several years ago in Taganrog, together with the Vega concern, they began to modernize the A-50, during which the aviation complex received modern on-board computers and new equipment for operators' workplaces. A-50 aircraft with tail number 37 was taken as a prototype of the A-50U. State tests of the prototype were successfully completed in autumn 2009, at the same time Colonel-General Alexander Zelin, Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Air Force, signed an act of termination of the GSE. The completion of the tests opened the way for TANTK for "serial modernization" of combatant A-50s, which are part of the Ivanovo air base of AWACS aircraft. In autumn 2008, the first plane arrived in Taganrog.
Regarding the completion of the GSI A-50U at the end of 2009, the official press release of "Beriev" reported that during the modernization, the main emphasis was placed on the transition to a new elementary basis of the on-board radio engineering complex (RTK). This transition made it possible to significantly reduce the total weight of the radio engineering complex and reduce the weight of the aircraft. The consequence of this was the possibility of a larger fuel load with a constant take-off weight.
Thus, the time for completing a combat mission at a given line and flight range were significantly increased.
The improved RTK has improved capabilities for detecting subtle and low-flying air targets (including in conditions of active use of electronic warfare systems), measuring their angular coordinates, speed and range. In addition, the radar detects an aerial target such as a helicopter. The aircraft also surveys the sea surface, detecting surface targets and measuring their coordinates. At the same time, the new A-50U, in comparison with the A-50, has improved characteristics of finding targets in the rear hemisphere.
A satellite navigation system has been added to the flight and navigation complex of the modernized aircraft, which can significantly improve the accuracy of air navigation.
The modernization of the workplaces of the members of the tactical crew of the aircraft was carried out radically. Old hardware racks based on cathode-ray tubes on the A-50U have been replaced with universal data display facilities based on monitors with liquid crystal displays. In addition, the A-50U, unlike the original aircraft, is equipped with rest rooms for the crew, a buffet with household equipment and a toilet.
In Ivanovo, at the airbase of airborne early warning aircraft, the first modernized A-50U is already eagerly awaited. In May this year, the only part of AWACS aircraft in the country celebrated its 45th anniversary. It has been counting down its history since the formation of the 67th separate AWACS aviation squadron on Tu-126 aircraft in Monchegorsk (Murmansk region) on May 20, 1966. In the autumn of the same year, the squadron relocated to Siauliai in Lithuania. In Lithuania, in the early 80s, the squadron was transformed into a regiment, and Tu-126 aircraft were gradually replaced with new A-50s. In October 1989, the 144th separate air regiment of A-50 aircraft was relocated from the Baltic to the Komi Republic at the airfield near Pechora. All A-50 aircraft have been based in Ivanovo since the summer of 1998. In Ivanovo, in the same 98th, the 2457th air base of early-range radar aircraft was created. This spring it was reorganized into a new airbase.
TANTK them. G. M. Beriev, immediately after the first combatant A-50U, they began to refine the next machine from Ivanovo. The plane has already arrived at the factory airfield in Taganrog. After a while, it is planned to modernize the entire fleet of A-50 aircraft of the Russian Air Force in a similar way.
At the same time, TANTK, together with the Vega concern, are working on the creation of a new RLDN aviation complex with the latest radio-technical complex, which has even more significant characteristics.
