On July 23rd, 2016, Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) completed the final assembly of its first independently developed, large amphibious aircraft, the AG600, in Zhuhai, Guangzhou. The AG600 will be used to perform fire fighting and marine rescue missions.

As one of the China's "Three Large Planes," the production of the AG600 is another milestone for China's large aircraft sector following the delivery of the large transport aircraft, the Y-20, and the completion of the large passenger aircraft, the C919.

The AG600 is by far the world's largest amphibious aircraft. To meet the urgent demands of forest fire fighting and marine rescues, the AG600 is China's first large, specialized multi-purpose civilian aircraft and a major piece of aviation equipment that will serve the national emergency rescue system.

The AG600 is constructed with a single hull, cantilever monoplane layout, and possesses retractable, tricycle-type landing gear and four domestically manufactured WJ-6 turboprop engines. The aircraft is 37 meters long, 12.1 meters high, and has a wingspan of 38.8 meters (it is similar in size to a Boeing 737). The AG600 can take off with a maximum of 53.5 tons, has a maximum cruising speed of 500 km per hour, and has a range of 12 hours or 4,500 km. The aircraft can draw 12 tons of water in just 20 seconds, and cover afire area of more than 4,000 square meters at once. Its wave resistance ability of more than 2 meters enables the AG600 to perform special operations, such as fighting forest fires and executing marine rescues. The AG600 can be modified to fit user's needs with equipment utilized in marine environmental monitoring and protection operations, resource exploration, supply for island/rock, cracking down on marine smuggling and ensuring mariners' safety, as well as marine law enforcement and rights protection. The AG600 will provide the fastest and most efficient support and security for China's Maritime Silk Road. The aircraft can take off and land on both land and water, as well as make multiple trips between water sources and fires.

In addition to water searches at low altitude, the AG600 can carry out rescue operation under complicated weather conditions, such as in 2-meter-high waves, and save more than 50 people during each emergency water rescue. These qualities guarantee China's ability to provide medium to long-range marine rescues. The AG600's speed surpasses surface ships, such as rescue and salvage ships, by more than ten folds.