Beriev A-50 Mainstay
The A 50 Mainstay SDRLO (Long Range Detection System) aircraft is based on a stretched Ilyushin IL-76 Transport in widespread service with Soviet Forces combined with an upgraded "Flat Jack" radar system. Developed to replace the TU-126 Moss (a variant of the Bear bomber), the Mainstay first flew in 1980. It was estimated that at least 12 were in service by 1990, with an annual production rate of five machines per year and about 40 produced by 1992.
The aircraft's wings are high-mounted, swept-back, and tapered with blunt tips. There are four turbofan engines mounted on pylons under and extending beyond the wings’ leading edges. The fuselage is long, round and tapered to the rear with a radome on the chin. There is a saucer type radome on top of the aircraft. There is a stepped-up cockpit. The fail flats are swept-back and tapered with blunt tips high-mounted on the swept-back, tapered fin, forming a T. The aircraft can stay aloft without refueling for four to six hours and can remain airborne for another four hours with mid-air refueling. The aircraft has a maximum range of 1,800 kilometers, while the radar has a detection range of up to 800 kilometers, and can track 200 targets simultaneously.
The Mainstay is not as sophisticated as its western counterpart, the E-3 Sentry, but provides Russian Fighter Regiments with an airborne control capability over both land and water. It has a far better electronic and sensor fit than the Tu-126, and fitted with a new IFF system and a comprehensive ECM suite, the Il-76 is equipped for inflight refuelling to achive maximum endurance. Intended to direct Soviet fighter aircraft over battlefields in Europe or Asia, the Il-76 controlled MiG-29 and MiG-31 interceptors.
Mainstays have been used by the Russian Air Force at bases in the Kola Peninsula and for observing Allied air operations during the 1991 Gulf War from bases in Ukraine. In 1994 NATO proposed making the E-3 Sentry and the Beriev Mainstay interoperable to enable Russia to provide AEW&C support to future United Nations or coalition operations.
In early April 2000 Russia reached preliminary agreement to lease two A-50 aircraft to the Indian Air Force to step up its aerial surveillance on the border with Pakistan. India conducted trials of the A50 in July 2000, and the results were reportedly satisfactory.
Beriev is to produce three A-50Ehl AEW aircraft for India with IAI of Israel providing the aircraft’s electronic systems. The A-50E airborne early warning and contol aircraft is intended to perofrm the following missions: detection, tracking and IFF determination of the air and surface targets, surveilance, command, control and communication functions for both commands posts of automatic control systems, guidance of fighters to air targets and attack aviation to serface targets.
An Il-76M/Candid-B aircraft was delivered to Israel in 1999 to install the Phalcon radar and other avionics systems for China in the A-50I AWACS configuration. The uncompleted aircraft was left in Israel since the deal with China was cancelled in 2000, and eventually delivered to China in 2002 in the original Il-76M/Candid-B configuration.
In September 2000 it was reported that Rosvoorouzhenie, Russia’s arms-exporting company, had entered negotiations with China to lease a pair of A-50 aircraft, as a replacement for the Israeli Phalcon. The terms of the lease to China were expected to be finalized as soone as late November or December 2000. China is reported to have ordered four A-50/A-50M/U aircraft from Russia, but there are no substantiated reports of deliveries as of early 2004. Some sources claim that the improved A-50U is expected to be introduced by 2005.
In October 2003. Russia, India and Israel signed an agreement for supply to India 3 A-50 aircraft (based on Ilyushin-76 airplane) for long-distance radiolocation control, detection and guidance. At the request of the Indian party, the aircraft will be equipped with low-noise and fuel-efficient PS-90A-76 engines instead of usually provided D-30KP engines. A part of the revenue obtained from the deal will be received by the manufacturer of the PS-90A-76 engines - Perm Engine Company.
The Baghdad-1 variant was an Iraqi Il-76MD airframe modified as an AEW platform through the addition of a Thomson-CSF Tigre surveillance radar mounted behind a blister radome in place of the aft clamshell doors, radar system crew included four operators and allowed monitoring a 180° sweep out to 190 nm (350 km); 1 converted but deemed unsuccessful due to unspecified problems. The Adnan variant were Iraqi Il-76 airframes modified as AEW aircraft by mounting a 29.5 ft (9 m) diameter rotating radome atop the fuselage; 3 converted but 1 was destroyed during the 1991 Gulf War and the other two fled to Iran where they still remained.
