December 22, 2021: United Aircraft Corporation (UAC, part of state corporation Rostec) is to expand Beriev's production capacity. It was announced by UAC's director general Yuri Slyusar during the meeting of the working group on Taganrog's urban revitalisation program. The session was chaired by the First Deputy Speaker of the Federation Council Andrey Yatskin.

"UAC is planning to upgrade and expand the plant's production capacities, which will in turn create new job opportunities. At this moment we have a stable order situation thanks to production of BE-200ES planes for a specialized fire-fighting squadron", told Yuri Slyusar.

The decision to form a squadron of multipurpose amphibians BE-200ES, produced by Beriev Aircraft Corp. in Taganrog to fight both man-caused fires and wildfires was announced in October 2020.

Yuri Slusar at his office. © UAC

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.

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.