New A-100 airborne warning and control system aircraft (AWACS) will be created in Russia, Lenta.ru reports. It has been stated by the Commander in Chief of the Russian air forces, General-Colonel Alexander Zelin. "We have a full support of Joint Staff Chief and financial support too. We should create this vehicle by 2016, we will have the carrier in 2013-2014", - the Commander in Chief noted.
The development of antenna and radar for new AWACS aircraft has already been completed. "It is a different radar as compared to А-50, with an active phased antenna array. The aircraft will be able to trace air and ground targets", - said Zelin. A modified Il-476 aircraft equipped with PS-90 engines will be used as a carrier. It will provide a longer range than А-50.
The fact of new AWACS aircraft’s development has been declared for the first time by CEO of Vega concern, Vladimir Verba, in September 2010. Vega is developing radar for the new jet. According to Verba, a brand-new system will be finished by 2015 and it will base at Il-76 and An-124 aircraft. The development of A-100 is carried out in accordance with presidential edict from April 28th 2004.
At present 28 A-50M AWACS aircraft are used by the Russian air forces. The jets are produced by Beriev Aircraft Company. А-50 has a flight speed of 800 km/h and range of 7,500 km. The aircraft is able to detect different types of air and ground targets from the distance of 650 and 300 respectively. In addition, the aircraft provides tracing of 300 targets.
At present Vega and Beriev Aircraft Company are upgrading А-50Мs to А-50U version. It is the comprehensive modernization of AWACS aircraft with advanced radar Shmel-M and Shmel-2. As compared to the basic А-50, the new aircraft provides detection of targets from the longer distances.