Beriev Be-12

Infobox Aircraft
name=Be-12 Chayka


caption=Be-12P-200 at Gelendzhik in September 2004
type=Maritime patrol aircraft
manufacturer=Beriev
designer=
first flight= October 1960
introduced=1960s
retired=
status= Operational (in small numbers)
primary user= Soviet Naval Aviation
more users=
produced=
number built= 143 [http://www.aeroflight.co.uk/types/russia/beriev/be-12/be-12.htm Aeroflight - Beriev Be-12 'Mail'] ]
unit cost=
developed from=Beriev Be-6
variants with their own articles=:"Be-12 redirects here. For the WWI aircraft, see Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.12"

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

Design and development

Beriev Be-12 is development of 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 concept of its gull wing and twin oval tailfins.

The Be-12 was first flown in October 1960 at Taganrog airfield.

Operational history

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 amphibian aircraft still in military service in the world. Initially its role was ASW patrol, but when newer missiles enabled the United States Navy submarines to launch from further offshore, the Be-12 was converted to a search and rescue role (Be-12PS). Small numbers are still in service.

During development of the Beriev Be-200 unique fire-fighting equipment was tested using a specially modified Be-12P, coded '12 Yellow'. After installation of the fire-fighting system, the aircraft was registered RA-00046 and given the designation Be-12P-200. This modified Be-12 was used to develop both the fire-fighting system and methods of operation for the Be-200.Gordon, Sal'nikov and Zablotskiy 2006, pp. 79-80.]

According to figures released in 1993, the Russian Navy had 55 aircraft in service. By 2005 this had reduced to twelve, and by 2008 there were only 9 aircraft still in service.

Variants

;Be-12:Twin-engined maritime reconnaissance, anti-submarine warfare flying-boat. 2 prototypes and 130 production airframes built.;Be-12EKO:Projected ecological reconnaissance version. Never 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 4500 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.;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 breaking flights. 2 Crew. Later returned to standard configuration.

Operators

;RUS
*Russian Naval Aviation received ex-Soviet Union aircraft. 9 Aircraft still in operation with the Black Sea fleet.RIA Novosti news agency - [http://en.rian.ru/russia/20080905/116569962.html Russian Navy to receive 4 new amphibious planes by 2013] ] ;USSR
*Soviet Naval Aviation passed their aircraft to successor countries: Russia and Ukraine.;SYR
*Syrian Air Forcefact|date=September 2008;UKR
*Ukrainian Naval Aviation received ex-Soviet Union aircraft.;VNM
*Vietnam People's Air Force - 4 aircraft were exported to Vietnam in 1981.

pecifications (Be-12)

aircraft specifications

plane or copter?=plane
jet or prop?=prop

crew=Four
length main=30.11 m
length alt=98 ft 9 in
span main=29.84 m
span alt=97 ft 11 in
height main=7.94 m
height alt=26 ft 1 in
area main=99.0 m²
area alt=1,065 ft²
empty weight main=24,000 kg
empty weight alt=52,800 lb
loaded weight main=29,500 kg
loaded weight alt=64,900 lb
max takeoff weight main=36,000 kg
max takeoff weight alt=79,200 lb

engine (prop)=Ivchenko Progress AI-20D
type of prop=turboprops
number of props=2
power main=3,864 kW
power alt=5,180 hp

max speed main=530 km/h
max speed alt=290 knots, 330 mph
range main=3,300 km
range alt=1,800 nm, 2,100 mi
ceiling main=8,000 m
ceiling alt=26,000 ft
climb rate main=
climb rate alt=
loading main=298 kg/m²
loading alt=61 lb/ft²
power/mass main=260 W/kg
power/mass alt=0.16 hp/lb

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

See also

aircontent
related=
* Beriev Be-6
similar aircraft=
* PBM Mariner
* P5M Marlin
* CL-415
lists=
* List of seaplanes and flying boats
* List of military aircraft of the Soviet Union and the CIS

References

Notes

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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