TU-126 MOSS: The USSR's First AWACS Had A Shocking Problem
In the early 1960s the Soviet Air Force faced a serious problem. Their giant northern border was a soft underbelly through which SAC bombers could travel at will. To plug the gap, they developed their first AWACS, the frighteningly noisy and rather poorly shielded TU-126.
Service on this aircraft was probably one of the most brutal missions of the Cold War. This video unpacks the aircraft, its operational use and its legacy.