Beriev Be-12

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"Be-12" redirects here. For the WWI aircraft, see Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.12. For the radioisotope, see isotopes of beryllium.
Be-12 Chayka
Beriev Be-12 Gelenzhik 2Sept2004.jpg
Be-12P-200 at Gelendzhik in September 2004
Role Maritime patrol aircraft
Manufacturer Beriev OKB
First flight October 1960
Introduction 1960s
Status Operational (in small numbers)
Primary user Soviet Naval Aviation
Number built 143[1]
Developed from Beriev Be-6

The Beriev Be-12 Chayka ("Seagull", NATO reporting name: Mail) is a Soviet turboprop-powered amphibious aircraft designed for anti-submarine and maritime patrol duties.

Design and development

The Beriev Be-12 was a successor to the Beriev Be-6 flying boat, whose primary roles were as an anti-submarine and maritime patrol bomber aircraft. Though tracing its origins to the Be-6, the Be-12 inherited little more than the gull wing and twin oval tailfin configuration of the older aircraft. The Be-12 had turboprop engines, which gave it an improved speed and range over the Be-6.[2] The Be-12 also had retractable landing gear, which enabled it to land on normal land runways, as well as water.

The Be-12 was first flown on October 18, 1960 at Taganrog airfield, and made its first[2] public appearance at the 1961 Soviet Aviation Day festivities at Tushino airfield. A total of 150 aircraft were produced, in several variations, with production ending in 1973.

Operational history

Be-12 at Ukrainian State Aviation Museum in Kiev

The Be-12 entered service with Soviet Naval Aviation, or AV-MF (Aviatcia Voenno-Morskogo Flota), in the early 1960s in the maritime patrol role, and is one of the few amphibians still in military service in the world. Initially its role was ASW patrol, but when newer missiles enabled United States Navy submarines to launch from further offshore it was converted to the search and rescue role (Be-12PS). Small numbers are still in service. After the dissolution of the Soviet Union, some aircraft were converted to water bombers for the suppression of forest fires. During development of the Beriev Be-200 unique fire-fighting equipment was tested using a specially modified Be-12P, code-named "12 Yellow". After installation of the fire-fighting system, the aircraft was registered as RA-00046 and given the designation Be-12P-200. This modified Be-12 was also used to trial firefighting operations envisaged for the Be-200.[3] According to figures released in 1993, the Russian Navy had 55 aircraft in service. By 2005 this had dropped to 12,[1] and by 2008 there were only nine aircraft still in service.[4] A surviving Be-12 is preserved at the Central Air Force Museum at Monino, outside of Moscow. Other examples exist at the Ukraine State Aviation Museum at Kiev, Ukraine and that the Taganrog Air Museum, in southern Russia.

Variants

Ukrainian Be-12
Be-12P-200 technology demonstrator
Be-12
Twin-engined maritime reconnaissance, anti-submarine warfare flying-boat. 2 prototypes and 130 production airframes built.
Be-12EKO
Projected ecological reconnaissance version. Not built.
Be-12I
Projected scientific research version designed in 1991. Not built.
Be-12LL
Conversion for testing the 3M-80 'Moskit' anti-shipping missile. Nose radar replaced with missile seeker head. One aircraft converted in 1980.
Be-12N
ASW version fitted with new sensors, avionics, MAD sensor and Nartsiss search/attack system. 27 aircraft converted.
Be-12Nkh
Utility transport, experimental passenger transport version. Military equipment removed, additional windows fitted. 2 built, both converted from Be-12.
Be-12P
Firefighting version. One 4,500 l tank and two 750 l tanks installed. Four aircraft converted in 1992.
Be-12P-200
Technology demonstrator for the Beriev Be-200. Fire-fighting configuration. One aircraft converted.[3]
Be-12PS
Maritime Search and rescue version. Life rafts and survival equipment carried. 6 crew. 10 built new, 4 converted from Be-12.
Be-12SK
One aircraft converted in 1961 for use in SK-1 nuclear depth charge tests.
Be-14
All weather, day/night SAR version. Additional SAR and medical equipment. 6 crew. AI-20D engines. One built.
M-12
Stripped-down Be-12 used for record-setting flights. 2 Crew. Later returned to standard configuration.

Operators

 Egypt
  • Egyptian Air Force operated two or three Be-12s circa 1970, crewed by Soviet personnel, to maintain surveillance on the United States Navy's 6th Fleet in the Mediterranean.[5]
 Russia
 Soviet Union
 Syria
 Ukraine
 Vietnam

Specifications (Be-12)

Be-12 at Monino Central Air Force Museum in Moscow, 2006

General characteristics

Performance

Armament

  • 1,500 kg (3,300 lb) of external stores, including bombs, depth-charges and torpedoes

See also

Related development
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era
Related lists

References

Notes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Aeroflight - Beriev Be-12 'Mail'
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Gordon, Sal'nikov and Zablotskiy 2006, pp. 79-80.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 RIA Novosti news agency - Russian Navy to receive 4 new amphibious planes by 2013
  5. ↑ Air International Magazine, August 1995, p. 88; example photo, p. 83.

Bibliography

  • Yefim Gordon, Andrey Sal'nikov and Aleksandr Zablotskiy (2006) Beriev's Jet Flying Boats. Hinckley, UK: Midland Publishing. ISBN 1-85780-236-5
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