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A-50 Ilyushin / Beriev
A-50
ASCC codename: Mainstay
Airborne Early Warning
And Control Aircraft

DESCRIPTION:
The A-50 'Mainstay' was developed to replace the aging Tu-126 'Moss' airborne early warning and control aircraft. The A-50 is based on the Ilyushin Il-76 transport aircraft, but the majority of the modifications have been performed by Beriev. In comparison to the original airframe, the A-50 incorporates a lengthened fuselage with space for display consoles and communications sytems for the 10 mission specialists. Similar to western designs performing the same mission, the most prominent feature of the A-50 is its large rotating radome mounted above the fuselage. Installed in the forward portion of the radome is the antenna for the surveillance radar while the after section houses various data-link systems that allow the A-50 to vector up to 10 or 12 interceptors at once. Mounted further forward on the fuselage is a canoe fairing that houses a satellite communications antenna. The A-50 is also equipped with twin flare pods to defend against heat-seeking missiles, wingtip electronic countermeasures pods, an inflight-refueling probe in the nose, and a radar warning receiver.
Tasked with detecting incoming cruise missiles as well as to provide airborne command to friendly fighters, the A-50 can operate over both land and water and is typically operated along the Russian coasts. An improved model equipped with a much more powerful radar was unveiled in 1995, and some 25 to 40 total aircraft are believed to have been built by the late 1990s. While most remain in Russian service, pairs of aircraft have also been leased to both India and China. China hoped to have its aircraft upgraded with the Israeli Phalcon radar system, but the deal fell through due to political pressure from the US and technical difficulties mounting the Phalcon system on a rotating radome. China responded to these difficulties by developing its own early warning aircraft based on the Il-76 known as the KJ-2000.
Iraq also converted three former civil Il-76 aircraft with radar equipment similar to that aboard the A-50. One was destroyed and two were interred by Iran during the 1991 Gulf War, leaving Iraq with none. Only one of Iranian planes was operational but was lost following a midair collision in 2009.
Last modified 27 September 2009

HISTORY:

First Flight 19 December 1978

Service Entry

1984

CREW: four flight crew: pilot, co-pilot, navigator, flight engineer
eleven systems operators: commander, engineer, three detection operators, four control operators, two communications operators

ESTIMATED COST:

unknown

AIRFOIL SECTIONS:

Wing Root TsAGI P-151 (13%)

Wing Tip

TsAGI P-151 (10%)

DIMENSIONS:

Length 182.83 ft (46.59 m)

Wingspan 165.67 ft (50.54 m)

Height 48.42 ft (14.76 m)

Wing Area 3,229.28 ft² (300.0 m²)

Canard Area

not applicable

WEIGHTS:

Empty unknown

Normal Takeoff unknown

Max Takeoff 418,880 lb (190,000 kg)

Fuel Capacity 142,905 lb (64,820 kg)

Max Payload

unknown

PROPULSION:

Powerplant four Soloview D-30KP turbofans

Thrust 105,820 lb (470.4 kN)

PERFORMANCE:

Max Level Speed at altitude: 530 mph (850 km/h)
at sea level: unknown

Initial Climb Rate unknown

Service Ceiling 33,435 ft (10,200 m)

Range 3,940 nm (7,300 km)

Endurance 7 hr 42 min

g-Limits +2

ARMAMENT:

Gun provision for two 23-mm cannons in a tail turret

Stations 2 wingtip hardpoints

Air-to-Air Missile none

Air-to-Surface Missile none

Bomb none

Other ECM pods, self-defense flares

KNOWN VARIANTS:

A-50 Production airborne early warning model based on the Il-76 airframe but equipped with a large rotating radome to track 50 to 60 targets and guide 10 to 12 interceptor aircraft simultaneously

A-50M Updated model with a new radar system and more powerful computer

A-50U Improved AEW model with a new radar, increased maximum takeoff weight, and increased patrol duration

A-50I Chinese model intended to integrate the Israeli Phalcon radar system onto the A-50; one prototype built but the program was cancelled

KJ-2000 'Mainring' Chinese variant of the A-50 equipped with an active electronically-steered phased array radar; at least four modified from the A-50I and Il-76MD transports

Il-976 Civilian derivative of the A-50 serving as range control and data recording aircraft for flight testing, based on the Il-76 and equipped with a similar rotodome as the A-50 but retains the glass nose of the Il-76 and lacks many of the A-50's electronic fairings, antennas, and inflight-refueling probe; 5 converted

Baghdad 1 Iraqi Il-76MD airframe modified as an aerial radar 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

Adnan 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

KNOWN COMBAT RECORD:

Iraq - Operation Desert Storm (Iraq, 1991)

KNOWN OPERATORS:

China, Zhongkuo Shenmin Taifang Tsunputai (People's Liberation Army Air Force)
India, Bharatiya Vayu Sena (Indian Air Force)
Iran (Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force)
Iraq, Al Quwwat Al Jawwiya al Iraqiya (Iraqi Air Force)
Russia, Voyenno Vozdushniye Sili (Russian Air Force)
Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, Voyenno Vozdushniye Sili (Soviet Air Force)

3-VIEW SCHEMATIC:

A-50

SOURCES:

airforce-technology.com A-50 site

Donald, David, ed. The Complete Encyclopedia of World Aircraft. NY: Barnes & Noble, 1997, p. 535, Ilyushin Il-76.

Donald, David and Lake, Jon, ed. The Encyclopedia of World Military Aircraft. NY: Barnes & Noble, 2000, p. 213-214, Ilyushin A-50 'Mainstay'/Il-976, Iraqi Air Force Baghdad 1 and Adnan.

Gunston, Bill, ed. The Encyclopedia of Modern Warplanes. NY: Barnes & Noble, 1995, p. 141, Ilyushin Il-76 'Candid', Il-78 'Midas' and A-50 'Mainstay'.

Gunston, Bill, ed. The Osprey Encyclopedia of Russian Aircraft. Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing, 1995, p. 56, A-50, Be-976.

Rendall, David. Jane's Aircraft Recognition Guide, 2nd ed. London: Harper Collins Publishers, 1999, p. 152, Ilysuhin/Beriev A-50 Mainstay.

Taylor, Michael. Brassey's World Aircraft & Systems Directory 1996/1997. London: Brassey's, 1996, p. 176-177, Beriev A-50 and 976 (NATO name Mainstay).

Taylor, Michael J. H. Brassey's World Aircraft & Systems Directory 1999/2000. London: Brassey's, 1999, p. 155, Beriev A-50 and 976 (NATO name Mainstay).

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	Ilyushin / Beriev A-50 ASCC codename: Mainstay Airborne Early Warning And Control Aircraft

DESCRIPTION: The A-50 'Mainstay' was developed to replace the aging Tu-126 'Moss' airborne early warning and control aircraft. The A-50 is based on the Ilyushin Il-76 transport aircraft, but the majority of the modifications have been performed by Beriev. In comparison to the original airframe, the A-50 incorporates a lengthened fuselage with space for display consoles and communications sytems for the 10 mission specialists. Similar to western designs performing the same mission, the most prominent feature of the A-50 is its large rotating radome mounted above the fuselage. Installed in the forward portion of the radome is the antenna for the surveillance radar while the after section houses various data-link systems that allow the A-50 to vector up to 10 or 12 interceptors at once. Mounted further forward on the fuselage is a canoe fairing that houses a satellite communications antenna. The A-50 is also equipped with twin flare pods to defend against heat-seeking missiles, wingtip electronic countermeasures pods, an inflight-refueling probe in the nose, and a radar warning receiver. Tasked with detecting incoming cruise missiles as well as to provide airborne command to friendly fighters, the A-50 can operate over both land and water and is typically operated along the Russian coasts. An improved model equipped with a much more powerful radar was unveiled in 1995, and some 25 to 40 total aircraft are believed to have been built by the late 1990s. While most remain in Russian service, pairs of aircraft have also been leased to both India and China. China hoped to have its aircraft upgraded with the Israeli Phalcon radar system, but the deal fell through due to political pressure from the US and technical difficulties mounting the Phalcon system on a rotating radome. China responded to these difficulties by developing its own early warning aircraft based on the Il-76 known as the KJ-2000. Iraq also converted three former civil Il-76 aircraft with radar equipment similar to that aboard the A-50. One was destroyed and two were interred by Iran during the 1991 Gulf War, leaving Iraq with none. Only one of Iranian planes was operational but was lost following a midair collision in 2009. Last modified 27 September 2009
HISTORY:
First Flight	19 December 1978
Service Entry	1984
CREW:	four flight crew: pilot, co-pilot, navigator, flight engineer eleven systems operators: commander, engineer, three detection operators, four control operators, two communications operators
ESTIMATED COST:	unknown
AIRFOIL SECTIONS:
Wing Root	TsAGI P-151 (13%)
Wing Tip	TsAGI P-151 (10%)
DIMENSIONS:
Length	182.83 ft (46.59 m)
Wingspan	165.67 ft (50.54 m)
Height	48.42 ft (14.76 m)
Wing Area	3,229.28 ft² (300.0 m²)
Canard Area	not applicable
WEIGHTS:
Empty	unknown
Normal Takeoff	unknown
Max Takeoff	418,880 lb (190,000 kg)
Fuel Capacity	142,905 lb (64,820 kg)
Max Payload	unknown
PROPULSION:
Powerplant	four Soloview D-30KP turbofans
Thrust	105,820 lb (470.4 kN)
PERFORMANCE:
Max Level Speed	at altitude: 530 mph (850 km/h) at sea level: unknown
Initial Climb Rate	unknown
Service Ceiling	33,435 ft (10,200 m)
Range	3,940 nm (7,300 km)
Endurance	7 hr 42 min
g-Limits	+2
ARMAMENT:
Gun	provision for two 23-mm cannons in a tail turret
Stations	2 wingtip hardpoints
Air-to-Air Missile	none
Air-to-Surface Missile	none
Bomb	none
Other	ECM pods, self-defense flares
KNOWN VARIANTS:
A-50	Production airborne early warning model based on the Il-76 airframe but equipped with a large rotating radome to track 50 to 60 targets and guide 10 to 12 interceptor aircraft simultaneously
A-50M	Updated model with a new radar system and more powerful computer
A-50U	Improved AEW model with a new radar, increased maximum takeoff weight, and increased patrol duration
A-50I	Chinese model intended to integrate the Israeli Phalcon radar system onto the A-50; one prototype built but the program was cancelled
KJ-2000 'Mainring'	Chinese variant of the A-50 equipped with an active electronically-steered phased array radar; at least four modified from the A-50I and Il-76MD transports
Il-976	Civilian derivative of the A-50 serving as range control and data recording aircraft for flight testing, based on the Il-76 and equipped with a similar rotodome as the A-50 but retains the glass nose of the Il-76 and lacks many of the A-50's electronic fairings, antennas, and inflight-refueling probe; 5 converted
Baghdad 1	Iraqi Il-76MD airframe modified as an aerial radar 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
Adnan	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
KNOWN COMBAT RECORD:	Iraq - Operation Desert Storm (Iraq, 1991)
KNOWN OPERATORS:	China, Zhongkuo Shenmin Taifang Tsunputai (People's Liberation Army Air Force) India, Bharatiya Vayu Sena (Indian Air Force) Iran (Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force) Iraq, Al Quwwat Al Jawwiya al Iraqiya (Iraqi Air Force) Russia, Voyenno Vozdushniye Sili (Russian Air Force) Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, Voyenno Vozdushniye Sili (Soviet Air Force)
3-VIEW SCHEMATIC:
SOURCES: airforce-technology.com A-50 site Donald, David, ed. The Complete Encyclopedia of World Aircraft. NY: Barnes & Noble, 1997, p. 535, Ilyushin Il-76. Donald, David and Lake, Jon, ed. The Encyclopedia of World Military Aircraft. NY: Barnes & Noble, 2000, p. 213-214, Ilyushin A-50 'Mainstay'/Il-976, Iraqi Air Force Baghdad 1 and Adnan. Gunston, Bill, ed. The Encyclopedia of Modern Warplanes. NY: Barnes & Noble, 1995, p. 141, Ilyushin Il-76 'Candid', Il-78 'Midas' and A-50 'Mainstay'. Gunston, Bill, ed. The Osprey Encyclopedia of Russian Aircraft. Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing, 1995, p. 56, A-50, Be-976. Rendall, David. Jane's Aircraft Recognition Guide, 2nd ed. London: Harper Collins Publishers, 1999, p. 152, Ilysuhin/Beriev A-50 Mainstay. Taylor, Michael. Brassey's World Aircraft & Systems Directory 1996/1997. London: Brassey's, 1996, p. 176-177, Beriev A-50 and 976 (NATO name Mainstay). Taylor, Michael J. H. Brassey's World Aircraft & Systems Directory 1999/2000. London: Brassey's, 1999, p. 155, Beriev A-50 and 976 (NATO name Mainstay).