27 February 2023 , 09:47
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One of Vladimir Putin's sophisticated spy planes has been destroyed by two drones at a Russian airbase in Belarus, reports say.
The £274 million AWACS Beriev A-50U aircraft was hit in an attack by Belarus partisans supporting Ukraine.
The distinctive plane carries a fibreglass dome more than 33ft in diameter which houses the rotating antenna of the Shmel radar complex.
The military spy plane was “significantly damaged”, according to the Belarusian Hajun project.
The “front and central parts of the aircraft, its avionics and radar antennae” were hit.
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Several huge explosions were earlier reported at the Machulishchi military base.
Russian A-50U aircraft, tail number RF-50608/43 - pictured in Moscow, Russia (social media/e2w)The A-50U long-range radar detection and control aircraft has been used to pinpoint bombing targets inside Ukraine for Putin’s air force.
A video shows such a plane arriving at Machulishchi on December 14 as part of Putin’s build-up of forces close to Ukraine.
A second video showed the destroyed plane landing at Ivanovo-Severnyy in Russia five years ago.
The A-50U is “actively employed” by Putin’s war machine for “accomplishing missions in the special operation”, a defence industry source earlier told TASS.
The “front and central parts of the aircraft, its avionics and radar antennae” were hit (social media/e2w)A Russian military transport aircraft and snow-clearing vehicles were also damaged in the audacious strike.
Belarus security forces reportedly found a bag with drone control equipment near the site of the operation.
Neither the Russian nor Belarussian defence ministries commented on the explosions.
Major searches were underway by police and security services close to Machulishchi in Minsk region, according to reports.
Russian President Vladimir Putin (POOL/AFP via Getty Images)Aliaksandr Azarov, head of BYPOL Association of Belarus partisans, told Belsat: “These were drones.
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“The participants of the operation were Belorussians, taking part in the ‘Peramoga’ [Belarus for Victory) plan.
“They are now safely outside the country. They have all gone.
“[The Belarus security services] may keep looking for them but they will have the same luck as searching for wind in a field.”
The aircraft was destroyed on the ground at the Machulishchi airfield (social media/e2w)A local resident said: “Half of Machulishchi is cordoned off. Lots of soldiers everywhere. We saw five military vehicles with machine guns. They are stopping all cars and minibuses there, checking bags and car boots.”
The Association of Security Forces of Belarus said the plane was badly damaged and “definitely won’t fly anywhere”.
The destroyed AWACS plane reportedly carried the registration number RF-50608 and arrived in Belarus on January 3, having made a dozen sorties linked to the war in Ukraine.
Russia has only six modernised A-50U aircraft, each of which has a crew of 19 and can track 60 targets simultaneously.
The Russian A-50U aircraft pictured in Moscow (social media/e2w)Machulishchi is used to base Putin’s MiG-31K fighter jets - which carry hypersonic Kinzhal missiles - for attacks on Ukraine.
These MiGs are often accompanied by the A-50U during operations.
The A-50U is designed to detect, track and identify the aerial, large ground and naval targets, transmit relevant data to command posts, and direct fighter jets to aerial targets.
Belarus exiled opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya said: "I am proud of all Belarusians who continue to resist the Russian hybrid occupation of Belarus & fight for the freedom of Ukraine.”