Serial production of a re-engined Beriev Be-200 amphibious firefighter could begin in 2028, according to Russian trade minister Anton Alikhanov.

Work has commenced on a programme to modernise the aircraft and replace its Progress D-436TP engines with the Aviadvigatel PD-8.

The PD-8 has been developed for the Yakovlev SJ-100 – a successor to the Superjet 100 – and is undergoing certification tests.

Alikhanov was informed of the Be-200 plans during a visit to the Beriev plant in Taganrog earlier this month.

“The enterprise is currently working on re-engining the Be-200,” he says. “We are funding the research and development this year and will continue next year.”

He says the ministry hopes to complete this research in 2027.

“If the [research] results are positive, we will begin production of the serial aircraft in 2028,” he adds.

Alikhanov also discussed with Rostov region acting governor Yuri Slyusar – the former head of aerospace conglomerate United Aircraft, of which Beriev is a part – support for a technical upgrade to the plant.

“We talked about the plant’s development prospects, in particular, the Be-200 re-engining programme,” says Slyusar.

“The minister noted that this project is a priority, and by 2028 we should start serial production of these unique aircraft with fully-Russian PD-8 engines.”

Modernising the plant’s equipment will “significantly increase” the Be-200 production volume, Slyusar adds.

“In the conditions of a changing climate, the need for firefighting aircraft will only grow, and we must be ready to meet this demand,” he says.