China greenlights amphibious AG600 aircraft for mass production

(ECNS) -- China's domestically developed AG600 "Kunlong" amphibious aircraft has entered mass production after receiving final approval from the country’s civil aviation authority, officials said Wednesday.

The move marks a key milestone in China's construction of large-scale aviation emergency rescue equipment, said the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC).

The AG600 is China's first large civil special-purpose aircraft designed to meet civil aviation airworthiness standards, according to state media outlet Xinhua News Agency.

It was developed to support China’s emergency rescue and disaster response systems, with the goal of protecting lives and property, according to the report.

On April 20, the AG600 obtained its type certificate from the Civil Aviation Administration of China in Beijing, signaling its readiness for market entry. A little over a month later, on May 22, it performed firefighting missions in both the Greater Khingan and Changbai mountains.

Its emergency response capabilities were demonstrated during spring forest and grassland fire prevention and extinguishing missions in Changbai Mountains, said Wang Huafeng, an official from Jilin Provincial Emergency Management Department.

According to the AVIC, future development will focus on strengthening emergency response, maritime operations, and core aviation technologies, with plans to expand global market applications.