Russia’s new A-100 Premier airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft completed its first flight on November 18 from the Taganrog Aviation Scientific and Technical Complex (TANTK), located near the Sea of Azov in the far west of the country.

According to prime contractor Vega, the first A-100 prototype tested aerodynamic characteristics, avionics and various elements of the ‘radio-technical complex’ during its maiden flight.

The milestone was announced by the press service of the mission-system designer, Vega Radio Engineering Concern, part of Russian Electronics of the Rostec Corporation.

The A-100 utilises the airframe of the Il-76MD-90A – also known as the Il-476.

According to the designers ‘the aviation complex may engage the air and other targets, as well as guide fighter and attack aircraft to hit air, ground and naval objectives.’

The A-100 is intended to replace Russian Aerospace Forces A-50 and A-50U Mainstay aircraft beginning in 2020. Compared to its predecessors, the A-100 incorporates an active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar – codenamed Premier – as opposed to a mechanically scanned radar.