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Air ForcesRussia

Be-12 Chayka (Mail)

Amphibious aircraftFielded 1968Pending verification
Air ForcesRUS
Be-12 Chayka (Mail)
Photo: Sergey A. Demidov · CC BY 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Fact cardConfidence · Source
System
TypeAmphibious aircraft
Date of introduction1968
ProliferationAt least 5 countries
ManufacturerBeriev OKB (design bureau), Taganrog, RussiaMed[1]
Crew6–10Med[1]
Dimensions and weight
Length30.17 m99 ftMed[1]
Height7 m23 ftMed[1]
Wingspan29.71 m97 ftMed[1]
Wing area105 sq mMed[1]
Empty weight18,000 kg39,683 lbMed[1]
Max takeoff weight31,000 kg68,343 lbMed[1]
Flight performance
Engine2 x Ivchenko AI-20DMed[1]
Thrust / power4,190 shaft hp eachMed[1]
Speed610 km/h379 mph · 329 ktMed[1]
Cruise speed320 km/hMed[1]
Rate of climb912 m per minuteMed[1]
Service ceiling11,280 m37,008 ftMed[1]
Endurance15 hoursMed[1]
Armament and payload
HardpointsUnderwing Pylons: 4 x ASW torpedoesMed[1]
Payload10,000 kg22,046 lbMed[1]
Internal baydepth bombs and minesMed[1]
Underwing pylons4 x ASW torpedoesMed[1]
Fire control
Surface / Search Radar1 x A304 surface search radar in nose radomeMed[1]
Variants
Be-12Twin-engined maritime reconnaissance, anti-submarine warfare flying-boat. 2 prototypes and 130 production airframes built.[1]
Be-12EKOProjected ecological reconnaissance version. Not built.[1]
Be-12IProjected scientific research version designed in 1991. Not built.[1]
Be-12LLConversion for testing the 3M-80 'Moskit' anti-shipping missile. Nose radar replaced with missile seeker head. One aircraft converted in 1980.[1]
Be-12NASW version fitted with new sensors, avionics, MAD sensor and Nartsiss search/attack system. 27 aircraft converted.[1]
Be-12NkhUtility transport, experimental passenger transport version. Military equipment removed, additional windows fitted. 2 built, both converted from Be-12.[1]
Be-12PFirefighting version. One 4,500 l tank and two 750 l tanks installed. Four aircraft converted in 1992.[1]
Be-12P-200Technology demonstrator for the Beriev Be-200. Fire-fighting configuration. One aircraft converted.[1]
Summary

Be-12 Chayka (Mail) Russian Amphibious Aircraft is a Soviet turboprop-powered amphibious aircraft designed for anti-submarine and maritime patrol duties. 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.

Draft entry. Values come from the cited public sources and are awaiting editor verification.
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Operators
EgyptRussiaSyriaUkraineVietnam
Sources
  1. Be-12 Chayka (Mail) Russian Amphibious Aircraft, U.S. Army TRADOC G-2 Worldwide Equipment Guide (ODIN)
    Published/updated 2026-03-20 · Tier 1 · checked 2026-10-10
Change log
  • 2026-10-10 Entry created from the Worldwide Equipment Guide (ODIN), bulk import
  • 2026-10-10 Added photo (CC BY 4.0)