Russia To Start Supplying Be-200 Amphibious Aircraft To China In 2019 - Manufacturer

Russia will start delivering its Be-200 amphibious aircraft to China next year, Beriev Aircraft Company Director General Yuri Grudinin told Sputnik on Friday.

ZHUHAI (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 09th November, 2018) Russia will start delivering its Be-200 amphibious aircraft to China next year, Beriev Aircraft Company Director General Yuri Grudinin told Sputnik on Friday.

"We have updated this project at this exhibition. This year we plan to already start manufacturing the aircraft for the customer and we will try to start the deliveries in 2019," Grudinin said on the sidelines of AirShow China 2018 in Zhuhai.

In 2016, the Beriev Aircraft Company and China's Leader Energy Aircraft Manufacturing Co.

Ltd signed a contract on the delivery of two Be-200 aircraft. Gudinin later said that the Be-200 production could be localized in China.

The Be-200 was designed by the Beriev Aircraft Company and built by the Irkut Corporation, both part of the Russian United Aircraft Corporation (UAC). The airplanes are currently used by the Russian Emergencies Ministry in firefighting, patrolling, and search and rescue operations. The aircraft can hold 12,000 liters (3,170 gallons) of water and is able to transport 42 tonnes of cargo.