Italian Fighter Jet Intercepts Russian Be-200PS Amphibious Jet — What Is Its Purpose?

Yesterday, January 16, at 1:30 p.m. Kyiv time, Italian Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jets took off from the Ämari Air Base in Estonia.

This was reported by NATO Air Command.

They intercepted a Russian Be-200PS search and rescue aircraft of the Russian Navy approaching the Baltic Sea.

The Be-200 is a jet amphibious aircraft capable of taking off and landing on both land and water.

It is equipped with two D-436T turbofan engines, has a speed of up to 720 km/h, and a range of up to 3,850 km. In transport configuration, it can carry up to 72 passengers, and in firefighting configuration, up to 12 tons of water.

The main tasks of the Be-200 include fighting large-scale fires, search and rescue operations, maritime patrol, and cargo transportation.

The aircraft’s history began in 1998 when it made its first flight. The intercepted aircraft (tail number 21 “yellow”, RF-88456) took to the skies in 2020.

The Be-200 series was launched in 2003. It was created on the basis of the larger A-40 Albatross amphibious aircraft.