No one in history has ever shot down an early warning aircraft
The Ukrainian Armed Forces accomplished what was considered impossible: no one in history has ever shot down an early warning aircraft.
Defense Express writes about this.
Previously, the destruction of such an aircraft was considered impossible, since these aircraft are trying to avoid the leading edge of the front line.
They stay out of range of enemy air defenses.
In addition, they are protected from attack by fighters by escort, while the aircraft itself will guide them towards enemy aircraft.
It is reported that this is a video of the last flight of the Russian A-50 AWACS.
“VKS” of the Russian Federation has such an aircraft as the A-50 in more than short supply. There are only nine vehicles “on paper”, of which three are still Soviet A-50s.
There are six more – modernized A-50U, one of which was damaged in 2023 at an airfield in Belarus.
The actual number in flying condition is unknown. Therefore, the destruction of such a machine means more significant losses and the appearance of a breach in its air defense and aviation control system.