Talk about your modern-day David versus Goliath stories. It seems that a $400 Ukrainian drone has taken out a $300 million Russian early warning and control aircraft. The Beriev A-50 is sometimes referred to as Russia’s “eye in the sky”. Its NATO reporting name is Mainstay.
The Fall of the Mainstay
In a move that would make even the most seasoned war strategists do a double-take, Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) executed Operation Spiderweb on June 1, 2025. This audacious operation saw over 100 first-person-view (FPV) drones, some costing as little as $400, launched from concealed positions deep within Russian territory. Their targets: major Russian airbases, resulting in the destruction or damage of at least 41 aircraft, including the prized Beriev A-50 “Mainstay” airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft.
The Beriev A-50 “Mainstay” is Russia’s flying radar dome—a Cold War dinosaur that’s somehow still lumbering through modern skies. Developed by the Beriev Aircraft Company and packed with radar tech from Vega-M, the A-50 is essentially a Soviet clone of the U.S. E-3 Sentry. It rides on the back of the Ilyushin Il-76 airframe, a heavy-lift military transport repurposed into a high-altitude command post. The A-50 made its first flight in 1978 and officially joined the Soviet Air Forces in 1985. It was built to keep tabs on NATO bombers, cruise missiles, and anything else sneaking around the edge of Soviet airspace. And in a way, it still serves that same role today—for a fraction of the original fleet.
Only about 40 of these aircraft were ever made. Of those, fewer than ten are thought to be flight-ready now, thanks to the usual suspects: aging airframes, sanctions squeezing parts supplies, and the general entropy that comes with trying to maintain 40-year-old flying radar trucks. The A-50 was never meant to fight wars forever, but here we are, 2025.
What makes the A-50 matter is what’s sitting on its back: a giant 30-foot rotodome housing the “Shmel” radar system, sometimes called “Liana.” This thing can spot incoming air targets from up to 650 kilometers away, and it can see ground targets at a range of around 300 kilometers. The radar can track 50 or 60 targets at once, feeding targeting data to fighter jets, surface-to-air missile systems, and command posts. It’s not just a passive observer; it’s a coordinator, able to guide up to ten aircraft into combat at the same time. Think of it like a flying quarterback calling plays and keeping the team in formation.
Inside, it’s a packed house—15 to 20 crew members including pilots, radar operators, and mission planners all crammed into the belly of this beast. These aren’t comfy commercial flights. It’s all business in the sky: long missions, cold interiors, and a crew glued to their screens while the world burns beneath them.
Over the years, the A-50 has had a few updates. The original version ran on analog guts—those are mostly phased out now. The A-50M added some upgraded nav gear, but the real leap came with the A-50U. That’s the modernized version with digital avionics, satellite comms, and a better radar picture. Only a few of the active fleet have been brought up to this standard, which makes each A-50U worth its weight in rubles and then some.
The Mainstay is crucial for Russia’s air dominance strategy. It extends radar coverage far beyond what ground stations can manage. Ironically, it helps detect low-flying drones and cruise missiles trying to sneak in under the radar. It’s the glue in the Russian integrated air defense system, especially when operating over hostile territory or near contested borders. That’s why it’s deployed to hot zones like Syria, Crimea, and Ukraine.
And that’s why the loss of one stings.
In 2023 and again in 2024, Ukraine began targeting these flying nerve centers. There was an infamous attack on an A-50 at a Belarusian airfield, likely involving local saboteurs and a well-planned hit. But the biggest blow came with Operation Spiderweb, when Ukrainian forces used a wave of cheap, loitering drones to strike deep inside Russian territory and take out another A-50. That was both a tactical hit and a strategic gut punch. Each aircraft costs hundreds of millions, and they’re nearly impossible to replace. Russia doesn’t have the industrial capacity to roll out new ones like candy bars, especially under Western sanctions.
Losing an A-50 cuts a hole in Russia’s air defense network. It limits their ability to monitor Ukrainian airspace, track missile launches, and coordinate their own sorties. It also sends a clear message: nowhere is safe. The loss is a morale crusher.
The A-50 may look like a relic from another era, but it still matters. It’s a high-value asset, and Ukraine knows it. Every time one goes down, it’s like knocking out the eye of a giant. It can still swing blindly, sure—but it’s no longer fighting with full vision.
Russia’s Strategic Power Losses in Operation Spider Web
Here are the key roles of the A-50, Tu-95, and Tu-22M3 warplanes in Russia’s military strategy — the very aircraft Ukraine disabled with $475 drones in a historic operation:#OperationSpiderweb #Russia #Ukraine pic.twitter.com/TnXqSbfIA6
— EOC-News (@eocbreakingnews) June 2, 2025
The Anatomy of Operation Spiderweb
This operation wasn’t a spontaneous act of rebellion; as noted previously on SOFREP, it was the culmination of 18 months of meticulous planning. Drones were smuggled into Russia, hidden in wooden crates and sheds, and remotely launched via commercial networks. The strikes reached as far as Belaya airbase in Siberia, over 4,000 kilometers from the Ukrainian border, showcasing Ukraine’s ability to penetrate deep into Russian territory.
The operation’s success has been likened to a modern-day Pearl Harbor, catching Russian defenses off guard and exposing vulnerabilities in their air defense systems. The psychological impact on the Russian military and public cannot be overstated, as the illusion of invulnerability has been shattered.
Strategic Implications
The destruction of the A-50 has far-reaching implications for Russia’s military operations. These aircraft are integral to Russia’s ability to monitor Ukrainian air defenses and coordinate missile strikes. Without them, Russia’s situational awareness is significantly diminished, potentially hindering future operations.
Moreover, the success of Operation Spiderweb underscores a paradigm shift in modern warfare. It demonstrates how low-cost, commercially available technology can be leveraged to counteract and even neutralize high-value military assets. This shift challenges traditional military doctrines and compels a reevaluation of defense strategies worldwide.
The Broader Context
At this point, we realize that Operation Spiderweb is not an isolated incident but part of a broader pattern of Ukrainian ingenuity and resilience. From the sinking of the Moskva to repeated hits on the Kerch Bridge, Ukraine has consistently demonstrated its ability to strike critical Russian assets despite limited resources and being 1/28th mother Russia’s size.
This operation also coincides with stalled peace talks and a record Russian drone barrage against Ukraine, reinforcing Ukraine’s resolve to retaliate against ongoing aggression. It reflects a pattern of daring Ukrainian strikes targeting the Russian rear, challenging perceptions of Russia’s air defense readiness.
Wrapping Up
The destruction of an A-50 during Operation Spiderweb marks a significant milestone in the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia. It not only represents a substantial loss for the Russian military but also symbolizes the effectiveness of asymmetric warfare tactics. As the war continues, the implications of this operation will reverberate through military strategies and doctrines worldwide.
In the words of President Volodymyr Zelensky, these are Ukrainian actions that will undoubtedly be in history books.