Group : Turboprop Airplanes
Status : Active
Origin : Russia
Contractors : Beriev, KnAAPO
Initial Operational Capability (IOC) : December 2001
First Flight : July 1997
Total Production : ?

The Beriev Be-103 is a light, amphibious, twin-engine, multi-purpose turboprop airplane designed to carry cargo and passengers, provide urgent medical aid, assist in firefighting, and environmental control of bodies of water. The aircraft can takeoff and landing based on both ground and water. Powered by two TCM-IO-360ES4 piston engines each rated at 210-hp and driving a three-blade propeller, the Be-103 is capable of flying at 3,000 meters of altitude and 210 kph on routes of 1,000 kilometers carrying up to five passengers or 368 kg of cargo. The airplane is being manufactured at KnAAPO aviation plant, Russia, which belongs to the Sukhoi aviation holding.

The Be-103 amphibious aircraft can operate with sea state 2 and wage heights of up to 0.5 meters at shallow waters of at least 1.25 meters of depth. With such characteristics the aircraft is suitable for operations at lake, rivers, water reservoirs and seas. Moreover, the Be-103 has been fitted with modern navigation and communication systems allowing flights at night and in adverse weather conditions. A weather radar is available as optional equipment.

So far, the Be-103 aircraft type has been certified in Russia (AP-23 standard December 2001), Europe, the United States (FAR-23 July 2003), Brazil (August 2005), China (December 2005) and is planned for certification in Canada. Beriev TANTK engineering company expects to sell many aircraft in the Latin America region following the Brazilian certification. As of September 2005, US-based customers had taken delivery of three Be-103s.