Ukraine's long-range strike on the Beriev Aircraft Plant turned out to be even more successful than initially reported. In addition to destroying the unique A-60 experimental laser aircraft, satellite imagery has confirmed the destruction of another highly significant platform — the A-100LL.
This is supported by satellite photos published by the OSINT community Dnipro Osint (Harbuz). The images clearly show the aftermath of the combined strike, which involved Bars missile-drones and Neptune cruise missiles.
Read more: Ukrainian Forces Destroyed russian A-60 Aircraft Equipped with a Laser Capable of Shooting Down Satellites
Post-strike imagery reveals extensive damage to both the A-60 and another airframe marked as an Il-76. However, pre-strike satellite imagery confirms that this aircraft was in fact the A-100LL.
A key identifying feature is the radar antenna supports mounted above the wing — unmistakable evidence that the aircraft is an airborne early warning platform rather than a standard Il-76. An additional antenna above the cockpit, absent on the A-50, further distinguishes the A-100 from the A-50 and A-50U.
This feature is even clearer on an older high-resolution satellite image available through Google Earth.
Another important detail is that the aircraft had been parked at the Beriev plant for many years. The destroyed airframe is the A-100LL testbed, based on an Il-76MD with tail number 52 Red and registration RF-93953 — not the A-100 Premier prototype.
The A-100LL played a vital role: it served as the primary ground and flight testing platform for all A-100 systems. It was used for a full spectrum of evaluations and trials of onboard equipment intended for the operational aircraft. In essence, the A-100LL was indispensable to russia's entire effort to develop a next-generation AWACS aircraft to replace the A-50 — and likely to modernize the existing fleet.
Without this testbed, all related work will be delayed indefinitely. This is why the destruction of the A-100LL represents a far greater loss than a single aircraft. And given that the A-100 program was already on life support, the elimination of its only test platform likely marks the final collapse of a project russia has dragged on since the early 2000s — despite its original promises to field the first aircraft in 2016.
Below is the original report from the OSINT community.
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