aerobd.news : The Vega Radio Engineering Corporation of the Ruselectronics holding company (part of Rostec) and the Beriev Aircraft Company have upgraded the A-50 airborne early warning and control aircraft to the A-50U version. Among other improvements enhancing the combat and aircraft performance characteristics of the plane, the companies have modernized radio technical complex Shmel. Thanks to the use of the modern electronic component base and high-performance computing tools, the aircraft is now capable to track more targets and guide more fighters. As compared to the previous model, the A-50U plane features an increased range of detection of various airborne vehicles, including completely new aircraft. High performance of the radar has been achieved by implementing the end-to-end channel of digital radar data processing and upgrading the receiver and the transmitter.

“A-50U is heavily modified A-50 aircraft. In addition to enhanced performance of the radio equipment, we have also significantly increased the comfort level for the crew,” said Director of Rostec’s Aviation Cluster Anatoly Serdyukov. “Upgrading the current aircraft fleet is a top priority for Rostec. Today’s competences of the Corporation’s specialists enable us to create unique products and modernize the already existing aircraft models.” Functional software features have been improved thanks to installation of a new onboard computing system that is based on higher-speed and better-performing modern digital computing engines. The modernization has also embraced the display system at the operators’ workplaces.

Reliability and performance of the satellite communication equipment, including information exchange speed, volume and quality, have been considerably enhanced. The aircraft navigation system has also been improved; the flight range and the mission duration have increased. The A-50U aircraft is intended to detect, track and identify air targets, large ground and sea targets, submit information thereon to the command posts of the armed forces’ automated control systems, guide fighters to air targets and front-line aircraft – to ground and sea targets.

Rostec is a Russian State Corporation established in 2007 to promote the development, production and export of high-tech industrial products designed for civil and military applications. The Corporation comprises over 700 organizations that are currently part of eleven holding companies operating in the military-industrial complex and three holding companies working in civilian industry, as well as over 80 directly managed organizations. Rostec’s portfolio includes well-known brands such as AVTOVAZ, KAMAZ, Kalashnikov Concern, Russian Helicopters, VSMPO AVISMA, UralVagonZavod, etc. Rostec companies are located in 60 constituent entities of the Russian Federation and supply products to more than 100 countries. The consolidated revenue of Rostec in 2017 amounted to RUB 1 trillion 589 billion rubles, while the consolidated net income and EBITDA amounted to 121 and 305 billion rubles, correspondingly. In 2017 the average salary in the Corporation was 46.8 thousand rubles. According to Rostec’s strategy, the main objective of the Corporation is to ensure that Russia has a technological advantage in highly competitive global markets. Rostec’s key objectives include the introduction of a new techno-economic paradigm and digitalization of Russian economy.​