On March 9, 2024, an unmanned aerial vehicle attack launched by the Armed Forces of Ukraine struck areas across the Beriev Tankt maintenance facility in Taganrog, Rostov region, russia. The Taganrog site is used to produce, upgrade, maintain and repair the russian Air Force’s A-50U airborne early warning and control aircraft. It also has broader strategic significance for russia as it also services long range strategic bombers, transport aircraft, and is the test centre for the next generation airborne early warning and control aircraft, the A-100. The constant presence of active air defence positioned around the site is indicative of its importance, the UK Defense Intelligence reports.
The loss of the A-50U aircraft from russian operations highly likely significantly degrades situational awareness. Images of the damage caused by the attack that circulated online appear to show damage to two large buildings associated to the A-50U fleet, highly likely used to shelter the aircraft during periods of deep maintenance. Two weeks after the loss of a second A-50U aircraft, the fleet highly likely remains grounded from flying in support of Ukraine operations. This attack demonstrates that Ukrainian operations can still reach strategically significant targets within russia, even when such sites are thought to be protected, whether in the air or on the land.
Read more: Not Only A-50 AEW&C aircraft: russia's Taganrog Plant, Attacked by Ukraine's Forces, Repairs Tu-142 ASW Planes
Read more: Satellite Photos Indicate Another russian A-50 Airborne Radar Destroyed in Taganrog Drone Attack
