The AG600 amphibious aircraft, developed by China, can take off and land on the sea with waves up to 2 meters high, supporting search and rescue operations.
The AG600, the largest amphibious aircraft in the world, developed by China Aviation Industry Corporation (AVIC), has entered mass production, marking an important milestone in the country’s aviation and maritime capabilities, Interesting Engineering reported on July 4.
The AG600M firefighting amphibious aircraft takes on water during tests in Jingmen, Hubei Province, central China, on September 27, 2022. (Photo: Xinhua/Wu Zhizun).
Specifically, the front assembly of the first batch of AG600 was delivered on June 30, marking the beginning of the mass production process. This assembly phase was completed in three months and is a significant step towards full-scale aircraft manufacturing. The final assembly of the AG600 will take place in Zhuhai, Guangdong Province, under the supervision of General Huanan Aircraft Industry, a subsidiary of AVIC. The AG600 is expected to receive certification by the end of the year and will then be delivered to customers.
China initiated the AG600 project in 2014. The first flight on land occurred in 2017, followed by its first flight over water in 2020. This year, four test AG600 aircraft are undergoing flight capability tests to verify performance.
The AG600 is part of China’s goal to enhance its aviation capabilities with domestically produced aircraft, including the Y-20 transport aircraft and the C919 passenger aircraft. AVIC Chairman Qu Jingwen stated that the AG600 can take off and land on the sea with waves up to 2 meters high and can hover in place for two hours.
This amphibious aircraft is developed to enhance China’s emergency rescue capabilities, including firefighting and search and rescue operations at sea. Additionally, it can be equipped with additional devices to meet diverse needs in areas such as marine environmental monitoring, resource exploration, passenger and cargo transportation, and many other fields.
The development of the AG600 has also faced several challenges. Technological obstacles and the COVID-19 pandemic have caused delays, pushing back the anticipated delivery date to 2022. Engine issues have also posed significant challenges. The AG600 uses the WJ-6 turboprop engine, based on the Soviet AI-20 engine from the 1950s. Addressing issues with this engine has been a crucial step in the project.
Despite these challenges, the project is progressing with 17 AG600 units ordered, including contracts from the State Oceanic Administration of China and the China Coast Guard. This indicates the new aircraft’s role in supporting maritime missions.
