Be-200

The Be-200 is a post-Soviet amphibious jet aircraft developed by Beriev with Irkut production involvement. UAC presents it as a special-purpose amphibious aircraft, while Airport Technology describes Beriev and Irkut's roles in the program. The aircraft was designed for firefighting but also supports rescue, transport, maritime patrol, and environmental monitoring missions.

Be-200 design is unusual because it is a jet amphibian optimized for water operations. The hull allows water landings and scooping, while the high-mounted engines reduce spray ingestion. UAC emphasizes high water-discharge performance, which is central to firefighting. At the same time, land-airport operation and a pressurized fuselage make the aircraft more versatile than a pure seaplane.

In service, the Be-200's clearest value is firefighting: it can scoop water from lakes or sea surfaces and deliver repeated drops without returning to an airport after every mission. Its broader relevance comes from the same amphibious flexibility, which can support search and rescue or patrol tasks. The Be-200 continues the Beriev tradition of specialized amphibious aircraft in a modern jet form.