Russian Air Force to get new A-50 AWACS in 2008: Commander

Moscow, June 25 (UNI) Russian Air Force Commander General Vladimir Mikhailov has said the Air Force will be equipped with a modernised A-50 airborne warning and control system (AWACS) in 2008.

''The A-50 plane will have a new image in 2008. It will be provided with new equipment that would make it possible to operate it for at least 20 years more,'' Gen Mikhailov told Interfax news agency.

''A lot has been done for this now,'' he added.

The A-50 was developed and manufactured by the Beriev Aircraft Research and Engineering Complex Joint Stock Company, based in Taganrog in Rostov Region.

The A-50 (NATO classification Mainstay) was inducted in Russian Air Force in 1984. Currently, there are reportedly 16 such aircraft in service.

The A-50 aircraft is intended to detect and identify airborne objects, determine their coordinates and flight path data and transfer the information to command posts.

It also acts as a control centre in guiding fighter-interceptors and tactical air forces aircraft to combat areas in order to attack ground targets at low altitudes.

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