Competition for Upgrade of A-50 AWACS

Results of Competition for Upgrade of A-50 Airplanes to Be Summarized Before End of This Year

A competition for the upgrade of front-line A-50 airborne warning and control airplanes has been announced within the framework of the state defense order, the general director of the S.V. Il’yushin Aviation Complex, Viktor Livanov, has reported.

“It is planned to summarize the results of this competition before year’s end. The real work on the upgrade of the A-50 airplanes will begin the following year,” V. Livanov told Interfax-AVN.

He specified that it initially is planned to upgrade one airplane which is necessary for performing a full cycle of flight tests. As are result of these tests, a decision will be made on the upgrade of the front-line aircraft.

As has been reported, at the present time work already is underway on the upgrade of the A-50’s radio equipment which was created by the Vega scientific and production association (now the Vega radio building concern.)

It is assumed that as a result of the upgrade, the flying and combat characteristics of the A-50 airplane will improve appreciably. In particular, the A-50 flight range will be increased, capabilities for guiding aircraft assets against targets will be improved and the airplane will be able to be refueled in the air.

The new radar complex will allow detecting up to 150 targets at a distance up to 600 kilometers, control large groups of fighters and direct air movements.

Source: 10.05.2007, Interfax-AVN

And the new CinC of the RuAF is

New Commander-in-Chief Named for Russia’s Air Force

A new commander-in-chief and chief of the general staff have been named in the air force, they reported on Thursday to Interfax at the Russian military department.

“General-Colonel Aleksandr Zelin, who until very recently has served in the post of deputy air force commander-in-chief, has been named air force CinC. General-Lieutenant Igor’ Khvorov, who had been commanding long range aviation, has become the chief of the general staff,” the source said.

He specified that Zelin has replaced 63-year old General of the Army Vladimir Mikhaylov.

There was no success in obtaining official confirmation of this information at Russia’s defense ministry.

Source: 10.05.07, Gazeta.RU