A senior US Army officer has confirmed that Ukraine used American-made Patriot surface-to-air missile systems to down a Russian Beriev A-50 airborne early warning and control aircraft in January 2024, a historic first.
The downing of Russia's A-50 radar and command aircraft on 14 January resulted in the loss of an air force colonel and junior officers who were on board, per Ukraine's Air Force spokesman.
After the shootdown of Russia's AWACS A-50 aircraft over Ukraine earlier, Russia has now deployed a replacement A-50 airborne early warning plane farther from Ukraine over Russian territory, per British intelligence.
Russian tactical aviation presence over the Sea of Azov has reportedly dropped to unprecedented low levels after Ukrainian strikes eliminated an A-50 radar plane and damaged an Il-22 aircraft, degrading Russian air capabilities, ISW says.
Late on 14 January, Ukrainian forces hit Russia's valuable A-50 early warning and control aircraft and IL-22 airborne control center. This may be the Russian Air Force's most devastating loss since the start of the all-out war.
Russia likely speeds up integration of an airborne radar with a surface-to-air missile system, bracing for Western combat aircraft in Ukraine, and considers riskier frontline flights.