Rescuers received "flying" boats. The Kingisepp Machine-Building Plant (KMZ) holding completed a contract for the supply of 62 airboats for the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations one and a half years ahead of schedule. In November 2025, the Ministry of Emergency Situations signed a contract for the supply of 57 airboats. The deal amounted to 1.3 billion rubles, with a completion deadline of December 2027. Later, an additional agreement was signed for the supply of five more boats.
With an engine power of about 400 horsepower, the 650-K airboat accelerates up to 190 km/h on water and over 200 km/h on snow or ice. Its payload capacity is up to 1500 kg, including a crew of five to six people. The range is up to 500–600 km.
An airboat is a hovercraft that moves by an air propeller. This allows it to reach shallow waters, sand spits, and ice-covered areas, cross swamps, and quickly deliver people and cargo – where ordinary ships are powerless due to their draft.
Such boats are mainly ordered for rescuing drowning people and fishermen. According to the technical specifications of the Ministry of Emergency Situations, a diesel engine was specifically required – it is more reliable and economical in field conditions. No one in Russia had yet created a diesel engine for an airboat. KMZ solved this problem.