China's AG600M large amphibious aircraft secures new order

BEIJING, Dec. 16 (Xinhua) -- China's independently-developed AG600M large amphibious aircraft has secured a new order for five aircraft, the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) announced on Friday.

AVIC General Huanan Aircraft Industry Co., Ltd. and Jiangsu Xiangyue General Aviation Co., Ltd. on Thursday signed a purchase agreement for five AG600M firefighting aircraft, said the AVIC, the country's leading plane-maker.

The new order shows that the Chinese homegrown large amphibious aircraft model is taking concrete forward steps on the path of effective market entry, said the AVIC.

The developer has fulfilled its target for the year in terms of both production and market for the AG600M, a full-configuration firefighting model belonging to China's AG600 large amphibious aircraft family.

Prior to this, the developer had secured the first batch of orders for AG600M aircraft.

In September 2022, AVIC General Huanan Aircraft Industry Co., Ltd. signed the first batch of purchase agreements for four AG600M aircraft with Everbright Financial Leasing Co., Ltd., and signed an intent of purchase agreement for two AG600M aircraft with the HNCA Aviation Equipment Leasing Co., Ltd., respectively.

Codenamed Kunlong, or water dragon in Chinese, the AG600 is a vital aeronautical cog in China's emergency-rescue system. It plays important roles in forest firefighting, maritime search and rescue, and other critical emergency rescue missions.

As a member of the AG600 family, the AG600M is specifically designed to combat forest fires. Its maximum take-off weight is 60 tonnes, with a water-carrying capacity of up to 12 tonnes. It can conduct low-altitude flying at low speed, enabling it to drop water accurately on fire sites.

The developer has fulfilled its annual target of completing the final assembly of three AG600M aircraft, the aircraft's key flight test of scooping and dropping 12 tonnes of water, as well as other major tech-flight test missions, among others.

Currently, the AVIC has three AG600M prototypes to undertake flight tests and other test missions, aiming to accelerate the progress of this large amphibious aircraft model.

The AVIC commits to sustaining the country's emergency rescue system and protecting people's lives and property by supporting and promoting the aircraft's progress, and that of other vital aeronautical equipment.