The Beriev Be-10 flying boat was developed for use by Soviet Naval Aviation as a patrol bomber during the Cold War years. It followed basic flying boat criteria by implementing a high-wing mainplane and boat-like hull mated to an aircraft fuselage. This allowed the aircraft to take-off and land from water sources and conduct the required over-water missions for the naval service. A wheeled undercarriage could be deployed for traditional runway landings and take-off. The design departed from classic flying boats of decades prior in its use of turbojet propulsion.
As completed, the Be-10 featured a standard operating crew of four. Its airframe length measured 103.1 feet with a wingspan of 93.9 feet and a height of 35 feet. The nose was glazed over for observation of the oncoming terrain and pontoon floats were fitted at the wingtips to prevent tipping during water running or rough seas. Empty weight was listed at 60,300lbs with a Maximum Take-Off Weight (MTOW) nearing 107,000lbs. A single vertical tail fin made up the tail along with a pair of upward-canted horizontal tailplanes. Power was from 2 x Lyulka AL-7PD turbojet engines, each delivering 16,000lbs of thrust and mounted at the wingroots, their nacelles found under each wings. Maximum speed was 565 miles per hour with a range out to 1,800 miles and a service ceiling of 41,000 feet. Rate-of-climb measured at about 2,000 feet per minute. Local defense was through a twin-gunned tail turret fitting 2 x 23mm AM-23 series cannons and 2 x 23mm cannons fitted to the nose. Up to 4,400lbs of stores in the form of torpedoes, mines, and conventional drop bombs could be carried.
Be-10s were first deployed with 2nd Squadron (977th OMDRAP) of Soviet Naval Aviation and they were later joined by 1st Squadron - becoming the two only operators of the entire series. Production also limited this reach as only 28 were manufactured in all from 1958 to 1961. Upon their adoption, Be-10s replaced the aged stock of 1950s-era, propeller-driven Beriev Be-6 "Madge" high-wing flying boats then in service. The new aircraft series was not formally identified by NATO observers until the 1961Tushino Aviation Day flyover.
In operational service, they were competent performers with great tactical flexibility. However, their controlling required a great deal of attention and veteran hands at the stick due to tricky flight characteristics. Indeed, several crashes were the result of the aircraft's handling scheme which stained an otherwise solid performance record. The line's demise was further aided early-onset metal fatigue primarily due to the violent landings required of the aircraft. The Be-10 was out of service as soon as 1968, succeeded by the new and improved Beriev Be-12 "Mail" line detailed elsewhere on this site.
Note: The above text is EXCLUSIVE to the site www.MilitaryFactory.com. It is the product of many hours of research and work made possible with the help of contributors, veterans, insiders, and topic specialists. If you happen upon this text anywhere else on the internet or in print, please let us know at MilitaryFactory AT gmail DOT com so that we may take appropriate action against the offender / offending site and continue to protect this original work.
(OPERATORS list includes past, present, and future operators when applicable)
✓Ground Attack (Bombing, Strafing)
Ability to conduct aerial bombing of ground targets by way of (but not limited to) guns, bombs, missiles, rockets, and the like.
✓Special-Mission: Anti-Ship
Equipped to search, track, and engage enemy surface elements through visual acquisition, radar support, and onboard weaponry.
✓Maritime / Navy
Land-based or shipborne capability for operating over-water in various maritime-related roles while supported by allied naval surface elements.
✓Intelligence-Surveillance-Reconnaissance (ISR), Scout
Surveil ground targets / target areas to assess environmental threat levels, enemy strength, or enemy movement.
Length
103.2 ft (31.45 m)
Width/Span
93.8 ft (28.60 m)
Height
35.1 ft (10.70 m)
Empty Wgt
60,318 lb (27,360 kg)
MTOW
106,924 lb (48,500 kg)
Wgt Diff
+46,606 lb (+21,140 kg)
(Showcased structural values pertain to the Beriev Be-10 production variant)
Installed:
2 x Lyulka AL-7PB turbojet engines developing 16,000lb of thrust each.
(Showcased performance specifications pertain to the Beriev Be-10 production variant. Performance specifications showcased above are subject to environmental factors as well as aircraft configuration. Estimates are made when Real Data not available. Compare this aircraft entry against any other in our database or View aircraft by powerplant type)
STANDARD:
2 x 23mm AM-23 cannons in nose position
2 x 23mm AM-23 cannons in tail turret
OPTIONAL:
Up to 4,400lbs of stores including torpedoes, naval mines, and conventional drop bombs.
Supported Types
(Not all ordnance types may be represented in the showcase above)
Hardpoint Mountings: 2
Izddeliye M - Single prototype
Be-10 ("Mallow") - Base series designation; 27 examples delivered.
Be-10N - Proposed cruise missile carrier; not furthered.
Be-10S - Proposed Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) platform; not produced.
Be-10U - Proposed target designation platform; not furthered.
Be-10T - Proposed trainer variant; not produced.
M-10 - Modified Be-10 for recordbreaking endeavors.
Ribbon graphics not necessarily indicative of actual historical campaign ribbons. Ribbons are clickable to their respective aerial campaigns / operations / aviation periods.
The "Military Factory" name and MilitaryFactory.com logo are registered ® U.S. trademarks protected by all applicable domestic and international intellectual property laws. All written content, illustrations, and photography are unique to this website (unless where indicated) and not for reuse/reproduction in any form. Material presented throughout this website is for historical and entertainment value only and should not to be construed as usable for hardware restoration, maintenance, or general operation. We do not sell any of the items showcased on this site. Please direct all other inquiries to militaryfactory AT gmail.com. No A.I. was used in the generation of this content; site is 100% curated by humans.
Soviet Union
