Be-12P-200 amphibian has been designed at the BERIEV Aircraft Company on the basis of Be-12 production aircraft and was employed as a flying laboratory of Be-200 new generation aircraft and Be-12 amphibian modification aimed at firefighting operations.

As a flying laboratory it is equipped with a special fire extinguishing system which has no principle differences with Be-200 amphibian system. The water scooping into the fire extinguishing system tanks can be performed in the sea, lakes and rivers area at the gliding speed close to the takeoff speed (0.9 – 0.97 of takeoff speed).The possibility of the tanks filling in the aerodromes is also provided.

Be-12P-200 amphibian was tested in 1996, and for seasons of 1997-1998 it was successfully employed for the forest fire extinguishing in Irkutsk and Khabarovsk regions.

In autumn of 1998 by invitation of Turkey Republic the Be-12P-200 aircraft has successfully performed demonstration flights (with water scooping during aquaplaning and further water bombing) over Antalia bay (Turkey).