This procurement represents a significant milestone for the Be-200 family, marking the first successful export contract for these versatile amphibious firefighting aircraft.

In a proactive move to bolster its firefighting capabilities, the Algerian Air Force, known as Al-Quwwat al-Jawwiya al-Jaza’iriya, has finalized an agreement to acquire four Beriev Be-200ES Altair multirole amphibious aircraft, commonly referred to as water bombers. This significant procurement decision comes in response to a series of wildfires that have plagued several regions of the country.

The journey toward this strategic acquisition began in August 2021 when the Ministry of National Defense of Algeria initiated negotiations with manufacturers of firefighting aircraft. The selected aircraft of choice, the Russian Be-200, emerged as the ideal solution for combating wildfires effectively. This decision was solidified when Algeria officially submitted a request for the supply of four Be-200 amphibious aircraft to the United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) in August 2021.

The contract to manufacture and deliver these amphibious firefighting aircraft was subsequently awarded to Taganrog Aviation Scientific and Technical Complex, commonly known as Beriev, in February 2022. To facilitate production, Beriev ordered materials worth over 385 million rubles (approximately USD 5.4 million), which were slated for delivery between 2022 and 2023.