May 19, 2023: the Embassy of the Russian Federation in the Arab Republic of Egypt released photos of Taganrog-made Be-200ES aircraft during the recent Algerian Air Force trainings. Representatives of the Embassy confirmed that more amphibians will be sent to Algeria under the previously established agreements.

According to the Telegram channel of the Embassy, in total Russia will provide Algeria with four seaplanes to fight devastating forest fires.

Algerian Flight Crews Train on Beriev's Be-200. © Russian Embassy in Egypt

Previously, the Algerian media reported that the country would get two Be-200ES by the summer of 2023 with two more aircraft to follow. All these amphibians are to be piloted and maintained by Algerian specialists who have completed a training course in Russia.

In August 2021, the Ministry of National Defense of Algeria officially announced that it had entered into negotiations with manufacturers of fire-fighting aircraft and selected the Russian Be-200. The Ministry announced its intention to purchase four Be-200ES aircrafts. Later on, Algeria rented one Be-200ES "water bomber plane" to extinguish forest fires in El Taref Province (June - September 2022). In late December 2022, the rollout ceremony was held at Beriev Aircraft Corp. for the first of the four Be-200ES multipurpose amphibians for Algeria.

Algerian Flight Crews Train on Beriev's Be-200. © Russian Embassy in Egypt

The Be-200 is a large aircraft that has the ability, among others, to take off and land in water, scoop up 12 tons of water and then drop that water on a wildfire in 18 seconds. One fuelling is enough for dropping up to 270 tons of water. Beriev's Be-200 also can drop fire retardant chemicals and deliver cargo, firefighters and other emergency equipment where they are needed. The airplane has a pressurized cabin and can be fitted with seats to carry passengers. The ES series is equipped with all-glass cockpit containing inscriptions in English and equipment optimized for tropical climate.

Earlier in 2019, in 2020 and in 2021 BE-200ES planes participated in the first fire-fighting mission in Turkey. In 2005 a BE-200ES participated in extinguishing two fires in the Southern part of Sardinia Island, Italy.