The Il-22, an aircraft used as a flying command post by the Russian Air Force, suffered a missile strike that almost shot it down. It managed to return to base despite sustaining extensive damage.
During the night of January 14, the Russian Air Force (VVS) received a severe blow, as it lost one of the few key Beriev A-50 «Mainstay» Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) aircraft, which reportedly fell into the Sea of Azog. The Ukrainian Air Defense Forces claim credit for the shoot-down, which was allegedly achieved by one of the Patriot long-range anti-aircraft missile batteries supplied by Kiev’s NATO allies.
Who did this? ???? pic.twitter.com/Zo0JlcQw04
— Ukrainian Air Force (@KpsZSU) January 15, 2024
The other Russian aircraft operating in the area at the time of the incident was an Ilushin Il-22M11, an airborne command post aircraft. An intercepted communication would have allowed the IL-22 crew to be heard requesting an emergency landing in Anapa, along with fire and medical services.
⚡️The soldiers of the Air Forces of the Armed Forces of ????????Ukraine destroyed the enemy aircraft of the long-range radar detection of the A-50 and the air point of management of the enemy IL-22, – Zaluzhny. pic.twitter.com/lb99waphu9
— ????????Ukrainian Front (@front_ukrainian) January 15, 2024
As can be seen below, in the photo posted by the Russian Telegram channel Fighterbomber, the Il-22 evidences severe damage from shrapnel from a missile warhead detonation at relatively close range.
According to Ukrainian sources, both aircraft were reportedly hit by a Patriot long-range air defense battery, which was deployed near the Crimean border in order to ambush these important Russian assets in a «SAM trap». From the Russian side, however, they argue that the damage received by the Il-22 was the product of an S-400 anti-aircraft missile, in a «friendly fire» accident.
Whatever the truth may be, the fact is that several of the Russian OSINT media consider the A-50 AEW&C as lost, leaving the VVS with only 10 units (or less), one of which had been damaged by a drone attack last year in Belarus. As for the fleet of Russian airborne command aircraft, there are not enough of them either, and the «almost shot down» aircraft will take time to be repaired and returned to active service.
