Russia s radar-equipped aircraft conducts debut flight

Moscow Nov 19 (IANS) Russia s newest A-100 aircraft with the most advanced airborne early warning and control (AWACS) system made its maiden flight on Saturday a media report said.

Quoting a news release issued by Vega Radio Engineering Corporation the designer affiliated with the Russian state-owned industrial and defence conglomerate Rostec Tass news agency said the multifunctional aviation complex of radar patrol and targeting A-100 made a debut flight and the avionics and elements of the radio engineering complex of the aircraft were tested during the flight Xinhua news agency reported.

According to the press service the aircraft is installed with a unique antenna system and the state-of-the-art radar equipment which enables it to quickly build up a radar field in a predetermined direction of operation.

It can also guide fighters and bombers to hit detected air ground and naval targets the company said.

The A-100 aircraft built on the base of the Il-76MD-90A transport aircraft is expected to replace the A-50 AWACS aircraft currently in the service of the Russian Air Force.

--IANS
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