AG600 Amphibious Aircraft Cleared for Mass Production
Developed by AVIC, the AG600 Kunlong is China’s first large amphibious aircraft to achieve a PC.
China’s AG600 amphibious aircraft has officially received its Production Certificate (PC) from the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC), marking a major milestone in the nation’s aviation industry and enabling full-scale manufacturing.
The certificate, awarded on June 11 in Zhuhai, verifies that the AG600 complies with national standards for design, production, and quality control.
Developed by Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC), the AG600 Kunlong is China’s first large amphibious aircraft to achieve a PC.
It is also the world’s largest civilian amphibious aircraft, with a maximum takeoff weight of 60 tonnes (132,277 pounds), a cruising speed of 220 kilometers per hour (137 miles per hour), and a range of 4,500 kilometers (2,796 miles).
Earmarked for emergency response tasks such as firefighting, maritime rescue, and disaster relief, the AG600 can carry up to 12 tonnes (26,455 pounds) of water during firefighting missions.
According to available specifications, the aircraft measures 38.9 meters (127.6 feet) in length, 11.7 meters (38.4 feet) in height, and has a wingspan of 38.8 meters (127.3 feet).
During the June 11 certification event, AVIC General Aviation South China signed cooperative agreements on aviation emergency rescue equipment with the Jilin Provincial Emergency Department, Jinhua City (Zhejiang), Macau General Aviation and Flight Association, and AVIC International.
AVIC General Aviation South China and the Emergency Management Department’s Emergency Aviation Rescue Joint Innovation Key Laboratory also signed a technical cooperation agreement with the Aerospace Information Innovation Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
The PC follows the aircraft’s Type Certification in April.
The first production unit rolled off the assembly line on May 6 and completed its initial production test flight in Zhuhai on May 18. Days later, on May 22, the AG600 showcased its firefighting capabilities during missions in the Greater Khingan Range and Changbai Mountains.
With the production certificate in place, the AG600 is now positioned to support the expansion of China’s aviation-based emergency response infrastructure.
The program is part of a broader national strategy to enhance rapid response capabilities in challenging environments.
According to AVIC, the AG600 project has established a full industrial system covering design, manufacturing, integration, testing, and after-sales support. This has helped strengthen the domestic supply chain for amphibious aircraft and cultivated a skilled workforce specializing in engineering, quality assurance, and logistics.
Officials say the program has injected new momentum into the development of China’s civil aviation industry and supports long-term strategic goals of industrial self-reliance.