The AFU shot down a Russian A-50 long-range radar detection and control aircraft, it's worth about $500 000 000 (updated)
The Ukrainian Armed Forces have destroyed another "fat target" of the Russian army.
Here's What We Know
We are talking about the aircraft of long-range radar detection and control A-50 with the flight number RF-50601 "Red". The information was shared by the RBC-Ukraine edition, citing its source in the Defence Forces. The aircraft was shot down immediately after entering combat duty in the Sea of Azov in the evening of 14 January. A-50 disappeared from radar and stopped responding to requests from tactical aviation. After that, Su-30 was sent to the place of the aircraft's disappearance, which found the aircraft ignited and fell.
Incidentally, apart from the A-50, the Ukrainian army also hit a Russian Il-22M11 aircraft at the same time. According to intercepts of conversations with air traffic controllers at Anapa aerodrome, the Il-22M11 was planning to reach the nearest airport. The pilot requested evacuation, an ambulance and a fire truck. Whether the aircraft managed to reach the landing site is unknown. By the way, the Air Force of Ukraine has not yet officially confirmed the information about the shooting down of two aircraft.
Flashback
A-50 is a Soviet and Russian aircraft of long-range radar detection and control. It is based on the Il-76 military transport aircraft. The A-50 can be used for detection and tracking of air and surface targets, notification of command posts of automated control systems of branches of the Armed Forces about air and surface situation, it can be used for controlling fighter and strike aircraft in their targeting of air, land and sea targets, as well as serve as an air command post. According to many experts, the A-50 is one of the most protected air targets. Shooting down such an aircraft equates to the destruction of an aircraft carrier. By the way, the cost of the A-50 is about $350 million. If we talk about the modified version, it may cost about $500 million.
Update: The Commander-in-Chief of the AFU and the Ukrainian Air Force confirmed the shooting down of the two planes.
Source: RBC
