The remaining units of Russian A-50 “flying radars” can now detect Ukrainian missiles only over Russian-controlled territory. Valeriy Romanenko, a senior researcher at the State Aviation Museum, said this in a commentary to the Kyiv TV channel, Kommersant Ukrainian reports 
Until Ukrainians learned how to shoot down A-50s, the expert says, these aircraft could “see” the situation deep in the rear of Ukrainian territory.
“They could see the movement of vehicles on the roads, the positions of anti-aircraft missile systems, armoured vehicles, and artillery from this aircraft. Because it can hit ground targets at 200 kilometres, not just air targets,”
– romanenko said.
However, after two such aircraft have already been shot down, they are no longer trying to approach the territory controlled by the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
“Now they write that A-50 is flying over Crimea. But it is not approaching… Because our Armed Forces are constantly firing StormShadow missiles at Crimea. It still has the ability to detect such missiles and warn its air defences. But only over Russian territory. This is not enough. Previously, they could almost see our aircraft approaching before launch. Now they can only see the fact of crossing. At a time when ground-based radars can already see these missiles. This is the only thing the Russians can afford – participation in the air defence of Crimea. And that’s it,”
– the expert said.
Since the beginning of 2024, the Ukrainian Armed Forces have shot down two Russian A-50 “flying radars”. Currently, the Russians have only a few of them left in working order.
Characteristics of the A-50 aircraft
The A-50 is a long-range radar detection and control aircraft based on the Il-76 military transport aircraft.
During the Soviet era, the industry managed to produce 31 aircraft, and today there are few “live” aircraft left, only about 12 in various variations: 9 are in service with the Russian Aerospace Forces in the A-50 and A-50U variants (3 and 6 respectively), and the rest are in service with the Indian Armed Forces.
The aircraft is equipped with the Shmel radio system based on the Soviet Argon-50 onboard electronic computer.
The aircraft is operated by 10-11 operators: a commander, a senior guidance navigator, two guidance navigators, a senior escort operator, two escort operators, and flight engineers of the RTC, radar and communications systems. They are accompanied by 5 flight crew members.
The aircraft is capable of reconnaissance of air, ground and surface targets. The aircraft can detect ballistic missile plumes at a distance of up to 800 kilometres using optoelectronic on-board systems, and the radar can locate and track aircraft and cruise missiles at distances of up to 700 kilometres.