Close up of Be-12PS zero four yellow at the Saky runway.

The Russian-produced Beriev-12 "Chayka" (Seagull), NATO code name MAIL, was developed as an anti-submarine combat aircraft during the late 1950s. The first production Chayka encoutered its roll-out in December 1963. Almost ten years later, in June 1973, the last and 143rd Chayka rolled out of state factory number 86 in Taganrog.

The Ukraine Navy had in 2012 nine Be-12 on strength at Saky, only a few were airworthy. The aircraft were no longer allowed to land on water, but were only used for patrol missions and submarine hunting. Saky air base, located at the Crimea, was the direct access for the Ukrainians to the Black Sea.