Russian A-50E AWACS appeared in the airspace over Syria

Russian A-50E AWACS  appeared in the airspace over Syria.

The Beriev A-50 (NATO reporting name “Mainstay”) is a Russian Airborne early warning and control (AEW) aircraft based on the Ilyushin Il-76 transport.

The A-50E airborne early warning and contol aircraft is intended to perform the following missions: detection, tracking and IFF determination of the air and surface targets, surveillance, command, control and communication functions for both commands posts of automatic control systems, guidance of fighters to air targets and attack aviation to surface targets.