The Beriev A-50U is an upgrade of the A-50 strategic airborne early warning aircraft based on the airframe of the Ilyushin Il-76MD. The centrepiece of this variant is the E-821 Shmel radar, with the range of 300-350km (186-218 miles) for large targets flying at high altitude, and the capability of simultaneously tracking 45 targets, the antenna of which is housed inside the typical radome atop a pedestal over the rear fuselage. Out of about 24 originally manufactured A-50s, some 19 remain in service. The first of them was deployed to Syria in reaction to the US TLAM-strike on Shayrat AB in May 2017. Since December of the same year, up to two A-50Us were forward deployed at Hmeimim AB. Illustrated here is Bort ‘41 Red’ (outlined in blue), nick-named ‘Taganrog’, after the main base of the VKS A-50-fleet. Notable is the total of 18 mission markings applied in the form of red stars below the cockpit. (Artwork by Tom Cooper)