Effective Weapon Against Flames: The Be-200 Aircraft

The recent surge in forest fires has prompted an effective response. Two Be-200 firefighting planes, dispatched to Turkey with the approval of Russian President Vladimir Putin, are playing a crucial role in combating the blazes.In recent years, Turkey has taken significant steps to enhance its capacity to combat forest fires. The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry has expanded its firefighting fleet, with a total of 161 aircraft (28 planes, 119 helicopters, 14 UAVs) and over 5,264 land vehicles available this year.Two Russian amphibious planes, leased at the request of Turkish authorities, arrived in Turkey on June 30, 2026, and began active duty on July 1.The Be-200 type amphibious planes are state-owned aircraft that cannot be leased to individuals or commercial companies. However, they can be leased through inter-state agreements or contracts between relevant ministries.With the approval of Russian President Vladimir Putin, the planes were used to combat forest fires, as seen in videos shared by Minister of Agriculture and Forestry İbrahim Yumaklı.