We should definitely not take Sergei Shoigu’s words at face value. He claims that Ukraine lost 515 aircraft during the full-scale war. According to Military Balance, in 2021, the Armed Forces of Ukraine had 79 aircraft at their disposal. As for the minister’s statement about using the A-50 in tandem with the S-400, it may be true.
The TASS report claims that the S-400 missiles were launched at maximum range. The air targets were at an altitude of about 1 km. The 40N6 is considered the longest-range missile. Its declared flight range is 380 km. Unlike the 48N6DM missile with a range of 250 kilometers, the 40N6 is equipped with a combined guidance system, not a radio command system.
If a missile is launched from the ground at a target at an altitude of 1 km, the radio range for the S-400 radar will be 140 km. Theoretically, the A-50 can act as a targeting device for the 40H6 missile, thus providing it with the maximum range.