Beriev A-40 Albatros "Mermaid"
Beriev · Soviet Union · first flew 1986 · transport aircraft
The Beriev A-40 Albatros is a Soviet/Russian twin-turbofan amphibious maritime patrol aircraft that was the world's largest amphibian when it first flew in 1986. Designed to replace the Be-12, it combines jet performance with the ability to operate from water.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, swept |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 2 × turbofan, wing-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 43.84 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | T-tail |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- World's largest amphibious aircraft at its introduction
- Twin turbofan engines above shoulder-mounted swept wings
- Boat hull with retractable undercarriage for land operations
The enormous size, high-mounted swept wings with twin turbofans above them, a deep V-section boat hull, retractable undercarriage, and a T-tail are the defining features. Wingtip floats on slender struts are visible at low speed.
Specifications
- The Beriev A-40 Albatros has a length of 43.84 m (144 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 41.62 m (137 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 800 km/h (497 mph).
- Typical crew: 8 (crew + mission specialists).
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
First flown in December 1986, the A-40 was developed to provide the Soviet Navy with a fast, modern maritime patrol amphibian. The collapse of the Soviet Union and subsequent funding cuts severely limited production; only two full prototypes and a few partial airframes were completed. Russia has periodically considered reviving the programme.
Variants
The Be-42 designation was applied to the military maritime patrol version; the A-40 name covers the basic type. A search-and-rescue variant and a proposed anti-submarine warfare version were studied. The programme has not reached series production.
Where you'll see it
Has not entered operational military service in meaningful numbers due to funding constraints. The prototypes have been used for ongoing trials and have been displayed at MAKS airshows. Russia's interest in amphibious patrol aircraft keeps the programme nominally alive.
Related aircraft
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- Be-200 Altair
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- Beriev Be-32
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- Short Tucano
- Antonov An-71
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