The Beriev Be-12 "Mail" was a successful flying boat aircraft developed for the Soviet Navy as a replacement for its troublesome Be-10 "Mallow" series during the Cold War. It fulfilled the role of maritime patrol and reconnaissance and showcased a turboprop design over the former's turbojet arrangement. Like the Be-10 before it, the Be-12 went on to set several world aircraft records for an aircraft of this type. The series was available in prototype form in 1960, first unveiled to the public during 1961 and entered production soon afterwards. 143 of the type were produced in all with some still flying today (2014).
The Be-12 was powered by 2 x Ivchenko Progress AI-20D turboprop engines mounted high on a high-wing monoplane assembly. The wings were notably cranked upwards from the fuselage in a "gull-wing" type arrangement. As with other flying boat designs, the use of high-mounted wings aided in lift as well as clearing the engines from the surface of the water. To prevent tipping, pontoon floats were affixed under each wing. The Be-12 was typically crewed by four to six personnel. Beyond its water-based landing and take-off, it also held an inherent amphibious quality thanks to its wheeled undercarriage - a feature retained from the preceding Be-10 design. As such, it could function as a traditional land-based aircraft from prepared runways. Beyond that, the Be-12 accommodated a MAD (Magnetic Anomaly Detection) system in the tail, a radar housed in the nose section and a glazed observation position also in the nose.
Dimensions included a length of 98.8 feet, a wingspan of 98 feet, and a height of 26 feet. Empty weight was listed at 52,800lb with a Maximum Take-Off Weight of 79,200lb. Performance from the twin-turboprop engines included a maximum speed of 330 miles per hour, a range out to 2,100 miles and a service ceiling of 26,250 feet.
The Be-12 bettered the outgoing Be-10 - which it succeeded in Soviet Naval Aviation service - by improving its operational ranges. Its payload included up to 3,300lbs of externally-held stores in the form of torpedoes, depth charges, mines, or conventional drop bombs.
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.
October 2023 - It was reported that Russian Naval forces would begin active operations involving BE-12 aircraft in conjunction with Fencer and Flanker jet aircraft to counter the threat posed by Ukrainian unmanned underwater vehicles.
SPECIAL-MISSION: ANTI-SUBMARINE WARFARE
Equipped to search, track, and engage enemy underwater elements by way of specialized onboard equipment and weapons.
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
Surveil ground targets / target areas to assess environmental threat levels, enemy strength, or enemy movement.
98.8 ft (30.11 meters) Length
97.9 ft (29.84 meters) Width/Span
26.0 ft (7.94 meters) Height
52,911 lb (24,000 kilograms) Empty Weight
79,366 lb (36,000 kilograms) Maximum Take-Off Weight
Monoplane
Design utilizes a single primary wing mainplane; this represents the most popular modern mainplane arrangement.
High-Mounted
Mainplanes are mounted at the upper-most position allowable along the dorsal line of the fuselage.
Straight
The planform involves use of basic, straight mainplane members.
2 x Ivchenko Progress AI-20D turboprop engines developing 5,180 horsepower each driving four-bladed propeller units. Propulsion
Up to 3,300lb of externally-held drop-ordnance including torpedoes, depth charges, mines, and/or conventional drop bombs.
2 Hardpoints
X
X
Hardpoints Key:
Centerline
Wingroot(L)
Wingroot(R)
Wing
Wingtip
Internal
Not Used
Be-12 - Base Series Designation; standard production models.
Be-12EKO - Proposed ecological reconnaissance platform.
Be-12I - Proposed flying laboratory
Be-12LL - Cruise missile carrier test airframe
Be-12N - Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) variant with MAD and other applicable sensory equipment.
Be-12Nkh - Stripped utility transport; two converted from standard Be-12.
Be-12P - Firefighting variant
Be-12P-200 - Developmental firefighting variant
Be-12PS - Search and Rescue variant; four converted from base Be-12s.
Be-12SK - Test airframe for nuclear depth charges
Be-14 - All-weather, day-night Search and Rescue variant; single example completed.
M-12 - Stripped variant for record attempts.
Images
1 / 7
Image from the Russian Ministry of Defense.
2 / 7
Image from the Russian Ministry of Defense.
3 / 7
Image from the United States Department of Defense imagery database.
4 / 7
Image from the United States Department of Defense imagery database.
5 / 7
Image from the United States Department of Defense imagery database.
6 / 7
Image from the United States Department of Defense imagery database.
7 / 7
Image from the United States Department of Defense imagery database.
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.
