Beriev Be-200
The Beriev Be-200 Altair is a Russian jet-powered flying boat built by the Beriev Aircraft Company. It’s designed to work from both land runways and water, and can be used for firefighting, search and rescue, maritime patrols, cargo, and passenger transport. In firefighting mode it can scoop water from lakes or the sea and drop it on fires, carrying up to 12,000 liters (about 3,200 US gallons) of water, and it can also be used to carry up to 72 passengers.
The Altair name came from a staff competition in 2002–2003 and references the alpha star in the Eagle constellation. The Be-200 was developed as a civilian counterpart to Beriev’s military A-40 Albatross and uses a similar layout but is lighter. Development began in 1989 under designer Alexander Yavkin, with cooperation from Irkutsk Aircraft Production Association. The project later became part of Russia’s United Aircraft Corporation and Rostec.
A key feature of the Be-200 is its firefighting system. It is equipped with special water-scooping gear that lets it skim the water surface at high speed and fill its tanks quickly. After filling, water can be released in a single drop or in multiple drops onto a fire.
The first Be-200 prototype flew on September 24, 1998. The first water takeoff occurred in 1999. The second Be-200 flew in 2002, and production Be-200s started deliveries to the Russian EMERCOM (the emergency situations ministry) in 2003. A total of about 8 production aircraft were built by 2011. In 2010, production moved to Taganrog, where a new assembly line was set up to continue building Be-200s. The first aircraft built in Taganrog was delivered in 2017.
About 20 Be-200s have been produced. They have been operated by EMERCOM, Azerbaijan, and Russian Naval Aviation, with one Be-200 ordered for Algeria. There have also been various discussions and demonstrations with potential customers in Europe, Asia, and the Americas, but not all of these plans came to fruition.
Design and performance elements include a high-wing, T-tail layout, a single-step hull made largely of aluminum with corrosion protection, and water-scoop gear under the wings to reduce water spray during takeoff and landing. The aircraft uses two Progress D-436TP engines mounted above the wing root pods to minimize water ingestion, and it features a fly-by-wire cockpit with modern avionics (ARIA 200-M system) for all-weather operations. The Be-200 can be configured for firefighting, cargo, or passenger flights, and can also be set up for special missions such as medical evacuation, search and rescue, or anti-submarine duties.
In firefighting missions, the Be-200 drops water from its internal tanks and can also carry extra chemical agents. The aircraft’s firefighting capability has been demonstrated in several countries, including Italy, Portugal, Indonesia, Azerbaijan, Israel, and Greece. The program has faced challenges, including changes in engine plans and international sanctions, and a 2021 crash in Turkey significantly impacted operations. In 2024, a Be-200 was reportedly damaged by a Ukrainian drone strike at Yeysk airfield.
Today, the Be-200 remains in production and service in Russia, with ongoing interest from potential buyers around the world, though export and certification opportunities have been affected by sanctions and political developments.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 11:43 (CET).