Drone attack on Taganrog: Ukraine destroys Russia’s A-100LL flying laboratory and the A-60

In a night-time drone attack, Ukraine destroyed two experimental aircraft of the Russian defence industry. The target was the site of the Beriev Taganrog Aviation Scientific and Technical Complex. The Beriev A-60 and the A-100LL were hit.

The hits have no direct effect on the course of the war. Nevertheless, they are unique prestige targets, and at least in the case of the A-100LL there could be serious long-term consequences for a major Russian defence programme.

One of the destroyed aircraft is the “flying laser” Beriev A-60. Based on an Ilyushin Il-76MD, the aircraft had been converted to carry a laser designated 1LK222 Sokol Eshelon. Since its retirement in 2016, the RA-86879 test aircraft had been parked on the airfield at Taganrog airport. In the night of 24 to 25 November, a Ukrainian drone destroyed it.

A-100LL: test aircraft for Russia’s early warning aircraft

The loss of the A-100LL, which was parked right next to it, could weigh considerably more heavily on Russian defence plans. This flying laboratory was used to develop the A-100, an airborne radar surveillance and command aircraft. The A-100LL was also based on an Ilyushin Il-76MD transport aircraft.

The Beriev A-100 is intended to succeed Russia’s A-50 Mainstay early warning aircraft, Russia’s counterpart to the NATO E-3 AWACS. Series production of the Beriev A-100 was originally to start as early as 2024, but Russia had to abandon these plans in 2022. The original design relied on Western electronic components. After the attack on Ukraine and the ensuing sanctions, Russia no longer had access to these parts, and Russia’s own technologies are considered outdated – the plans had to be revised.

In the best case, Russia still intends to bring up to 39 new early warning aircraft into service. However, the destruction of the only known technical test aircraft could set these plans back further.

Repeated drone attack on the Taganrog plant

Ukraine has already shot down Russian A-50 early warning aircraft in flight twice. In an attack on the Taganrog plant in March 2024, at least one further A-50 was damaged. Another A-50 was hit on the ground during Operation “Spiderweb” – although it was probably not operational at the time.

Ukraine has attacked the Taganrog plant with drones several times in recent years, scoring hits. It is home to Beriev, the only company in Russia capable of converting and maintaining early warning aircraft. The attacks suggest that Ukraine considers Russian developments in this field of air warfare decisive and therefore wants to obstruct them as much as possible.