The loss of the A-50 detection and command aircraft, which the Ukrainian army announced on Monday had been destroyed the day before over the Sea of Azov, could lead Russian forces to review the way they use this type of device, estimate the intelligence services of the British Ministry of Defense.
“On January 14, 2024, a Russian A-50 Mainstay aircraft, an airborne detection and control aircraft, almost certainly exploded and subsequently crashed in the western Sea of Azov. Meanwhile, a Russian Il-22M Coot-B plane was damaged but landed at a nearby Russian airfield”they recall in their daily update on the conflict.
“The fact that Ukraine managed to target an A-50 Mainstay is significant. It is likely that Russia will now be forced to reconsider the delimitation of the operational zones of its aircraft. The A-50 is essential for Russian aerial surveillance of the battlespace. The Russian Air Force has eight examples of the A-50, which should enable it to cope with immediate operational consequences. However, the increased pressure on the remaining aircraft, combined with the loss of the crew, will likely limit the viability of the mission in the longer term.add the intelligence services.