Ministry of Emergency Situations signed a contract with Kingisepp Machine-Building Plant for the supply of 57 airboats for 1.3 billion rubles

2026: Ministry of Emergency Situations signed a contract with Kingisepp Machine-Building Plant for the supply of 57 airboats for 1.3 billion rubles

In January 2026, a Russia new domestically produced airboat was tested in. The military-industrial holding "" Kingisepp Machine-Building Plant(KMZ) tested the machine as part of a large contract with. The company MINISTRY OF EMERGENCY SITUATIONS RUSSIAN FEDERATION won a tender for the production and supply of 57 airboats for the needs of the ministry. The amount of the agreement amounted to 1.3 billion. rubles

According to TASS, this technique belongs to the class of amphibious hovercraft vehicles. The principle of its operation is as follows: an aircraft engine with a capacity of 360-400 liters. from. Rotates the propeller to move forward and at the same time pumps air under a flexible fence (skirt), creating a pillow that lifts the body above the surface.

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Фото: kmz1.ru

This allows the airboat to reach speeds of up to 187 km/h on water and up to 220 km/h on snow or ice. The machine is designed for year-round operation in difficult conditions: on ice, hummocks, shallow water, mountain rivers, wetlands and in the Far North. The equipment can be used for patrolling, inspection and emergency rescue operations in inland waters and coastal areas.

According to the owner of KMZ Mikhail Danilenko, the key task of the airboat is to ensure mobility in those places where the work of ordinary transport is impossible: during the period of freezing and ice drift, on overgrown reservoirs, swamps and snow virgin lands. Earlier, in June 2025, the managing director of the holding announced a contract for the supply of 50 units of such equipment within three years, with the production of the first 20 cars in the initial period.

According to Danilenko, within the framework of the terms of reference, it is required to equip such airboats with diesel engines that were not previously developed in the country. The holding said that this problem will be resolved.^[1][2]

2024: Ministry of Emergency Situations signed a contract with KMZ for the supply of 199 multi-purpose boats with a total value of ₽2,76 billion

On November 1, 2024, it became known that Ministry of Emergency Situations Russia it had signed a contract for the supply of 199 multi-purpose boats with a total value of ₽2,76 billion. The production contract was won. Kingisepp Machine-Building Plant (KMZ)

According to RIA Novosti, Mikhail Danilenko, director of the KMZ holding, noted that the company has signed four contracts for the supply of boats for the Ministry of Emergency Situations, including several types of ships, including PK-500 patrol boats, RPK-640 and high-speed all-weather boats RX-1173 with a large range.

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Фото: KMZ

The first tests of RPK-640 patrol boats were successfully carried out, as told by the head of the project of serial production of RPK-640 boats Alexander Yashin. According to him, the boats showed excellent maneuverable qualities and reached a speed of 70 km/h, which confirms their readiness to fulfill the tasks set by the Ministry of Emergency Situations. All equipment on boats functioned properly, which guarantees their high reliability.

The production of boats is carried out within the framework of four contracts between KMZ and EMERCOM of Russia. PK-500 and RPK-640 patrol boats, as well as fast boats, are RX-1173 designed to ensure safety on waterways and perform rescue operations in all weather conditions. Alexander Yashin noted that these boats are able to effectively cope with patrolling and ensuring safety in any water area, which is especially important for prompt response in emergency situations.

Kingisepp Machine-Building Plant plans to start serial production of boats after the completion of all tests. During the first sea tests, the boats RPK-640 demonstrated reliability and stability on the water, which will allow the Russian Emergencies Ministry to get at its disposal modern vessels to ensure safety on waterways, including remote regions.^[3][4]

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