China's AG600 Amphibious Aircraft Enters Mass Production

China's domestically developed AG600 "Kunlong" amphibious aircraft has officially entered mass production after receiving a production certificate from the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC). The AG600, the world's largest and heaviest amphibious aircraft, features a unique design combining an aircraft-shaped upper body and ship-bottom-shaped lower body, with floats to prevent overturning on water, and it is capable of carrying up to 12 tonnes of water for firefighting missions. Developed by Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC), the AG600 is designed for emergency rescue and natural disaster response, showcasing China's core technology in large amphibious aircraft and marking a historic breakthrough for the country's civil aviation industry. The aircraft's development involved extensive collaboration across hundreds of units and tens of thousands of components, with a production system ensuring consistent adherence to airworthiness regulations. Following certification, AVIC has signed cooperation agreements to deploy the AG600 for emergency management and general aviation services in various Chinese provinces and regions. The AG600 is the latest in China's series of large domestic aircraft projects, following the Y-20 military transport and C919 narrow-body jetliner.