China's self-developed amphibious aircraft, the AG600M, designed to aid in emergency rescue operations, is poised to enter the market in the first quarter of 2025 after successfully completing several high-risk test flights earlier this month.
The AG600 family of amphibious aircraft is a cornerstone of China's efforts to bolster its emergency response capabilities. It is the country's first homegrown large special-purpose aircraft of such kind for firefighting, maritime rescue, and disaster relief operations.
Production of three upgraded AG600 aircraft is in full swing at an assembly plant in Zhuhai City, south China's Guangdong Province. During the Spring Festival holiday, the plant continued operation, with more than 300 people working intensively to finalize assembly, testing, and fine-tuning of the planes.
The planes being assembled are based on the technology of the first AG600 prototype, but with major upgrades to the firefighting systems and flight controls. The aircraft features state-of-the-art fly-by-wire flight control and integrated avionics systems. All components, from the engines to key onboard systems, are 100-percent developed and manufactured in China.
On Feb. 3, the sixth day of the Chinese New Year, the AG600 underwent rigorous assessment tests, including flight control failure simulations, ice formation condition tests, and checks, at a test flight center in Pucheng, northwest China's Shaanxi Province. These tests validated the aircraft's performance and safety, laying a solid foundation for subsequent airworthiness certification efforts, said its developer Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC).
The AG600 is set to play an important role in disaster relief, particularly in remote or hard-to-reach areas, thanks to its ability to operate both in the air and above water.
China’s homegrown AG600 amphibious aircraft set for market launch after successful testing
China’s homegrown AG600 amphibious aircraft set for market launch after successful testing
