Russia Hopes to Start Selling Beriev Be-200 Aircraft to US in 2018

Russia's trade representative to the United States Alexander Stadnik told Sputnik he hoped the deliveries of Be-200 firefighting aircraft would begin in 2018.

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — Russian aircraft company Beriev needs to be sure of the durability and integrity of the US-Russia partnership in order to move forward with production and sale of its Be-200 planes, Russia's trade representative to the United States Alexander Stadnik told Sputnik.

"The United States is greatly interested in Russia’s Beriev Be-200 aircraft," Stadnik stated on Thursday. "Yet, we need political stability which translates into confidence that our large investments are well-protected."

Stadnik explained that the project is currently in the works as Russia has to achieve certification from the US Federal Aviation Administration to start deliveries of the Be-200 aircraft.

As a result of the fact that the Be-200 aircraft has already obtained certification in Europe, the process may be simplified in the United States.

"I believe, we can begin the deliveries in 2018," Stadnik noted.

In 2012, TTE International Inc., a US company, signed a deal to buy ten Be-200 aircraft. The company’s President David Baskett stated the aircraft would be used under US federal and firefighting contracts.