Airborne Command Post News Today

The US Air Force awarded a $13 billion contract to replace its aging "doomsday planes" with a next-generation airborne command center.

Another of Russia’s prized A-50 Airborne Early Warning and Control System (AWACS) aircraft, call sign Bayan (Accordion), was shot down by Ukrainian Air Force over the Sea of Azov some 170 km from the front line at 7:15 p.m. EET on Feb. 23.

Several young officers, as well as a colonel, were on board the downed Russian A-50 airborne early warning and control (AWACS) plane and the damaged IL-22 airborne command post, Ukrainian Air Force spokesman Yuriy Ihnat said on national television on Jan. 22.

Viktor Klimov, the commanding officer of a Russian Il-22M airborne command post hit by Ukrainian forces on 14 January, was killed in that attack. Source: Krymsky Veter (Crimean Wind), a local Telegram-based news outlet Details: Russian social media communities reported that Klimov had been killed in the attack.

Another Russian A-50 airborne early warning and control (AWACS) plane has appeared over the Sea of Azov, Ukrainian Air Force spokesman, Yuriy Ihnat, said on national television on Jan. 19.

Russia no longer has the capability manufacture A-50 AWACS aircraft, one of which was destroyed by the Ukrainian Armed Forces (AFU), said Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence (HUR) spokesperson, Andriy Yusov, on national television on Jan. 19.

The Ukrainian Air Force has explained that the loss of one A-50 long-range radar detection aircraft cannot fundamentally impact the balance of forces using aviation on the front. However, it is undoubtedly a significant loss and will likely compel Russia to exercise more caution in the skies.

The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) has analysed the Russian versions of the downing of a Russian A-50 long-range radar detection aircraft and damage to an Il-22M airborne command post plane. Source: ISW Details: Ukrainian officials have stated that Ukrainian forces destroyed a Russian A-50 airborne early warning and control system (AWACS) aircraft and severely damaged an Il-22 airborne command post plane on the night of 14 January.

Ukrainian forces shot down a Russian A-50 plane over the Azov Sea and damaged an IL-22M11 airborne command post on the evening of Jan. 14, Suspilne reported, referencing sources in the Defense Forces.

The loss of an A-50 and an IL-22M airborne command and control platforms would be a major blow for Russia, which only has a handful of each.