Ukrainian Air Force Speaker Reveals Details Of Russian A-50 Destruction

The pilots saw their death approaching on the monitors.

Ukrainian defenders shot down a Russian A-50 airborne early warning aircraft. But Ukraine has tools that can reach the enemy at distant approaches.

Speaker of the Air Force of the Ukrainian Armed Forces Yury Ihnat told Channel 24 about it, noting that this has taken the Defense Forces and the Air Force to a new level. He added that the Russians are freaking out. The aircraft, as it is important to note, was shot down over the Sea of Azov on February 23.

“The occupiers are again freaking out very seriously. These are unprecedented cases when such an aircraft was destroyed for the first time, quite recently, on the 14th (of January — Channel 24). The plane fall continues. Ukraine has a “long arm,” tools that can reach the enemy at distant approaches,” Ihnat said.

Russians saw death approaching

The A-50 detected the missile too late. This is a heavy aircraft that will not be able to react to weapons and escape.

“They saw their death approaching on the monitors. Obviously, like the pilots last time,” said the speaker of the Air Force of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

From February 17 to February 24, the Ukrainian military destroyed 8 enemy aircraft. Ihnat recalled that this is not the first time that “plane falls” have occurred.

“They launched an unprecedented attack on the Avdiivka bridgehead with hundreds of guided bombs in a very short period. They carried out frequent air raids. Accordingly, more equipment was involved, they took risks. And, accordingly, they paid for it,” emphasized the speaker of the Air Force of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

Ihnat added that according to Ukrainian intelligence, the Russians had 8 A-50 aircraft. However, what condition they are in — serviceable or modernized — is unknown.

“I don’t think the occupiers use worse aircraft on the front line. Of course, what would be better is to go forward, to carry out tasks closer, to provide radar reconnaissance for our aviation and other weapons,” says Yury Ihnat, speaker of the Air Force of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

The invaders need to collect information and track air targets in the skies of Ukraine in real time. And also to identify Ukrainian air defense systems. The Russian A-50 aircraft can scan an area with its radar and thus provide the enemy with extremely important information. Typically, such an aircraft operates in tandem with the Il-22.

“The overall success of the enemy depends on the data that is processed and provided. Therefore, the destruction of such equipment is a very important step,” Yury Ihnat emphasized.

The occupiers have an advantage in equipment and technology. Meanwhile, Ukrainian pilots’ “hands are tied.” They have old Soviet equipment that can see twice or even three times less than a Russian plane. Therefore, missiles with semi-active homing heads cannot independently fly to the target.

“They need to be constantly illuminated by the onboard radar until the missile hits. This poses a serious danger to the pilot. And, accordingly, the efficiency of completing tasks is significantly reduced,” added Yury Ihnat.

The Russians, meanwhile, have active homing heads and the ability to see targets much further thanks to the A-50. The board can transmit information to Russian pilots that planes have taken to the skies in a certain region of Ukraine.