South Korea is talking to IAPO Beriev over the possible sale of "several"Be-200 amphibian aircraft for the country's maritime patrol force, according to IAPO president Alexei Fedorov.
If the deal is completed, South Korea would probably be the export launch customer for the aircraft, which would be accepted in part payment of Russia's debt to the Asian country.
A delegation from the Chinese army was present at the recent official first flight of the Be-200 in Irkutsk, Siberia, in mid-October and also showed interest, Fedorov claims. The first prototype Be-200 made several flights before the official test flight. The second aircraft, one of six ordered by Russia's Ministry of Emergency Situations, is under construction and should be delivered in 1999.
Source: Flight International