Russian Emergencies Ministry receives first production Be-200ChS amphibious aircraft

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World Defense & Security News - Russia
 
 
Russian Emergencies Ministry receives first production Be-200ChS amphibious aircraft
 
Russian airframer Beriev (a subsidiary of the United Aircraft Corporation, UAC) has delivered the first production-standard Beriev Be-200ChS amphibious aircraft to the Russian Emergencies Ministry, with four more to be supplied before year-end, UAC’s press office told journalists.
     
Russian Emergencies Ministry receives first production Be 200ChS amphibious aircraft 640 001EMERCOM's first Beriev Be-200ChS amphibious aircraft
(Credit: UAC)
     
The first production-standard aircraft was named after Alexander Razgonin, a famous naval aviator and a Hero of the Soviet Union. The amphibious passed the pre-delivery and acceptance tests, including takeoffs and splashdowns in the Black Sea and water scoops and dumps.

The first production-standard Be-200ChS has been assigned to the Southern Regional Centers of the Emergencies Ministry. After the delivery ceremony, the aircraft will be ferried to its home station in Rostov-on-Don.

Late in 2016, the Russian Industry and Trade Ministry issued Beriev a budgetary subsidy worth 3.5 billion rubles ($59 million) to relieve its debt burden and instill financial stability in it.

"We see that the company has been attaining a steady production rate with confidence. The assistance rendered to the plant by the Russian Industry and Trade Ministry enabled it to stick to its production schedule and meet its commitments to the customers," Industry and Trade Minister Denis Manturov noted.

According to Beriev Director General Yuri Grudinin, there are four Be-200ChS amphibiouss sitting in the final assembly shop in various phases of completion. They are being built under a contract placed by the Russian Emergencies Ministry. The second amphibious is gearing up for the flight and ground trials.

The Be-200ChS amphibious has been heavily upgraded during its productionizing, based on its operational record and in line with extra requirements by the customers. Its avionics suite has been updated, its airframe design has been modified and Russian-made systems have been substituted for some of the imported ones.

The Be-200ChS has proven itself on rescue operations in Europe, Indonesia and Israel. The aircraft features good exportability, and foreign customers are keen on it. In 2016, memoranda of understanding were signed for the amphibious’s delivery to Thailand, China, Kazakhstan, Indonesia and Vietnam. Talks are underway with several Asia-Pacific and EU nations, and the United States has displayed interest in the Russian amphibious.
     
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