Russian channels are now increasingly going for the version that the A-50 and the Il-22M were not hit by enemy fire, but by something unspecific. The A-50 is gone, though. In addition, they say that the Il-22M while being damaged still made it to Anapa, Russia.
@Tendar Question: How many AEW systems do they have, and are typically deployed in the region?
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@Tendar Maybe down to 7 of the A-50s, according to this estimate of the fleet.
https://www.militarytoday.com/aircraft/a50.htm#:~:text=A%20total%20of%2040%2D42,and%206%20A%2D50U%20aircraft.
