Promising long-range radar surveillance and guidance aircraft (AWACS and N) A-100 "Premier" performed its first flight with a radiation-operated multifunctional airborne radio-technical complex (MBRTK) - an enhanced radar station. Military observer Mikhail Khodarenok studied the capabilities of this machine. Specialists of the concern "Vega" of the holding "Ruselectronics" and TANTK them. G.M. Beriev as part of PJSC "UAC" (both are part of the state corporation "Rostec") conducted the first flight of the long-range radar surveillance and guidance aircraft A-100 with a fully activated multifunctional onboard radio-technical complex.
The tests confirmed the regular operation of the equipment, as well as the on-board systems of the aircraft in conditions of high electromagnetic radiation. This was reported by the press service of Rostec.
“The A-100 made its first flight back in 2017, but only now its radio-technical complex is working in such a way as to fulfill the assigned tasks. The entire element base was collected. When creating the A-100, electronics from Western countries were initially included in the equipment of the aircraft, but due to the sanctions imposed against Russia, subsequent work on the integration of the Russian electronic component base was delayed. Now this issue has been resolved. We finally managed to fully assemble our radar, ”explained a source in the Russian aviation industry.
During the flight, the aerodynamic characteristics of the aircraft, the operability of the avionics and the target equipment of the MBRTK were checked. Aircraft systems have worked out in accordance with the specified parameters and are ready for further types of tests.
“The creation of a promising aviation complex for radar detection and control of the A-100 was started with the leading role of Vega Concern OJSC in accordance with State Contract No. 63017 dated June 8, 2006,” said Ruslan Pukhov, director of the Center for Analysis of Strategies and Technologies.
According to the source of the publication, in 2013, during the work of the commission of the Russian Ministry of Defense, it was decided to replace the A-50 carrier aircraft in the A-100 complex with an aircraft based on the Il-76MD-90A.
Now the A-100 can detect and track up to 350 air, sea and ground targets, as well as control unmanned aerial vehicles. Almost doubled (compared to its predecessor - the A-50 aircraft), up to 650 km, the radius of detection of fighter-type targets has been increased. In addition, the A-100 is designed to control fighter and strike aircraft while aiming them at air, ground and sea targets.
As an air control post (VzPU) A-100 provides uninterrupted and stable communication centers of command posts of various groupings of troops. The aircraft receives information not only from its radar complex, but also from spacecraft of the orbital constellation of the Russian Aerospace Forces.
Western experts also highly appreciate the capabilities of the new aviation complex. “Most notably, the Premier is equipped with a completely new radar that has an active electronic height scanning function,” notes The Drive, an American specialized publication.
Active electronic scanning provides advantages in terms of accurately detecting and targeting even small or inconspicuous objects flying low over terrain.
“At this point in time, the Russian Aerospace Forces have two AWACS and U aircraft of the A-50 type and eight modernized A-50U aircraft,” recalled a source in the Russian aviation industry. Serial deliveries of AWACS and U type A-100 aircraft to the Russian Aerospace Forces were planned to begin as early as 2016, but they have not started as of 2022.
According to a source, the need of the Russian Aerospace Forces for AWACS and U type A-100 Premier aircraft is estimated at "about 35-40 aircraft."
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