The Algerian Ministry of National Defense has started negotiations with a Russian manufacturer on the purchase of four new Be-200 multipurpose amphibious waterbombers, capable of fighting forest fires in extreme and difficult weather conditions, a communiqué released on Tuesday reads.
"After the fires that occurred in several regions of the country, and in fulfillment of the instructions of the President of the Republic, the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, the Ministry of National Defense was instructed to carry out an operation to acquire aircraft that specialize in fighting forest fires. The Ministry of Defense immediately began the necessary consultations with world-renowned manufacturers capable of meeting this request in the shortest possible time," the document said.
"The choice fell on a world-renowned Russian manufacturer. For this purpose, the relevant services of the Ministry of National Defense began negotiations with this manufacturer to purchase four Russian-made Be-200 amphibious water bombers with two engines, a capacity of 13,000 liters and the ability to fight forest fires in extreme and difficult meteorological conditions. The world-famous Be-200 water bombers have proven their effectiveness in fighting forest fires in a number of countries around the world," reads the communiqué.
Forest fires have been raging in northern Algeria since last week, killing 90 people, including about three dozen members of the government army.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: Creative Commons
Based on materials from TASS