Ukrainian Strike Destroys Russia's Unique A-60 Laser Aircraft and Radar Testbed
- MM24 News Desk
- 1 day ago
- 3 min read
Ukrainian forces have destroyed Russia's one-of-a-kind A-60 laser testbed aircraft and a critical radar testbed in a long-range strike on the Beriev Aircraft Company facility in Taganrog. The attack, using Bars jet-powered drones and Neptune cruise missiles, eliminates two of Russia's most unique military aviation assets and demonstrates Ukraine's growing capability to strike high-value targets deep behind enemy lines.
Satellite imagery and social media videos confirm the destruction of the distinctive A-60, based on a converted Il-76MD Candid transport aircraft identifiable by its signature tail-section hump and nose radar fairing. Also destroyed was another aircraft believed to be the A-100LL testbed for Russia's next-generation airborne early warning and control system. The strike represents a significant blow to Russia's advanced military aviation programs, particularly coming from the Beriev facility that maintains Russia's strategic bomber fleet.
The A-60 was a relic of Cold War ambition revived for modern warfare. Originally developed in the mid-1970s to combat high-altitude balloons, the aircraft housed a carbon dioxide (CO2) laser gun in its cargo hold with a designed range of 25 miles. During Soviet testing in 1984, the A-60 flying at 32,800 feet successfully damaged a balloon over the Volsk research center. After the original prototype burned in 1988, this second aircraft resumed testing in the 2000s with a new mission: blinding infrared sensors on reconnaissance satellites.
"What makes this loss particularly significant is the unique nature of these testbeds," explained a defense analyst familiar with the program. "The A-60 represented Russia's only airborne laser platform, and the A-100LL was crucial for developing their next-generation radar aircraft. These aren't systems you can simply replace from storage." The destruction was confirmed by multiple sources including the Russian Telegram channel Fighterbomber, which has close connections to the Russian military.
The attack was part of a broader Ukrainian offensive overnight targeting Russian military infrastructure in the Rostov region and Krasnodar Krai. Russian officials confirmed three fatalities and eight injuries in the Taganrog attack alone, with additional damage to homes, warehouses, and infrastructure. The Beriev facility has been struck before, but never with such consequential results for Russia's specialized aircraft programs.
For Ukraine, the successful strike demonstrates evolving capabilities in long-range precision warfare. The Ukrainian Ministry of Defense stated they employed both Bars drones and enhanced Neptune cruise missiles—the same weapon that famously sank the Russian cruiser Moskva in 2022. The land-attack version of Neptune has been steadily increasing its range, providing Ukraine with deeper strike options against high-value Russian assets.
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The loss of the radar testbed may prove equally damaging to Russian capabilities. The A-100 AEW&C program has been hampered by sanctions and technical challenges, producing only one operational-standard aircraft so far. The A-100LL test aircraft was essential for proving the new systems, and its destruction will likely delay the program further. Russia's airborne early warning fleet has already suffered significantly, with two A-50 aircraft shot down and another damaged during the war.
The Taganrog facility's strategic importance extends beyond experimental aircraft. Beriev conducts deep maintenance on Russia's Tu-95MS Bear-H strategic missile carriers and Tu-142 Bear-F/J maritime patrol aircraft, making it a perennial high-value target. The latest strike continues Ukraine's pattern of targeting Russian aircraft at their home bases, including June's massive Operation Spiderweb that attacked multiple strategic bomber bases with 117 drones.
While the operational status of the A-60 program remained unclear before its destruction, the aircraft represented Moscow's ambitions in directed-energy weapons. Russian Deputy Defense Minister Alexsei Krivoruchko stated in 2019 that "work is underway on high-power lasers of various types. It is planned to put it on an airplane in the coming years." The destroyed A-60 was the only known platform for testing this technology.
The overnight attacks extended beyond Taganrog, with Ukrainian drones also striking Novorossiysk in what Krasnodar Krai governor Veniamin Kondratyev called "one of the longest and most massive attacks" since the invasion began. The port city handles over two million barrels of oil per day and now hosts much of the relocated Black Sea Fleet, making it another strategic priority for Ukrainian strikes.
As the war continues, the destruction of these unique testbeds demonstrates Ukraine's ability to identify and eliminate high-value, low-density assets that Russia cannot easily replace. While the immediate impact on frontline operations may be limited, the loss of research and development platforms like the A-60 and A-100LL will have long-term consequences for Russia's military modernization efforts.
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