Prior to the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Russia was estimated to have nine A-50s in active service. As well as the two combat losses since then, one of these aircraft was damaged in a drone attack while on the ground at a base in Belarus. As it stands, prior to yesterday, the best-case scenario involved seven of these aircraft in active service.
That article isn’t making any distinction between the A-50 and A-50u. I think that “9” number is the total of both. I haven’t been able to find any sources that confirm if the aircraft hit yesterday was an A-50 or an A-50u. If its an A-50u this loss is soooo much worse for Russia.
The A-50s are Soviet era analog electronics which are still useful, but not nearly as much as the modern version.
The A-50u is the upgrade modern variant much greater vision and capabilities with modern digital systems.
How many do they have left now? That’s the second one (IIRC) they’ve lost in this war, and they didn’t have many to begin with.
https://www.twz.com/air/what-ukraines-unprecedented-drone-attack-means-for-russian-bomber-force
That article isn’t making any distinction between the A-50 and A-50u. I think that “9” number is the total of both. I haven’t been able to find any sources that confirm if the aircraft hit yesterday was an A-50 or an A-50u. If its an A-50u this loss is soooo much worse for Russia.
The A-50s are Soviet era analog electronics which are still useful, but not nearly as much as the modern version.
The A-50u is the upgrade modern variant much greater vision and capabilities with modern digital systems.
Here’s a better article on this plane and the difference in the versions
Here’s all of the known names on each and date of entry into service:
Possible active А-50 of the Russian Aerospace Forces:
Active А-50U of the Russian Aerospace Forces:
I believe when the first one was destroyed, someone had outlined that only 3 of the 9 were operational.