Chinas AG600 Amphibious Aircraft Earns CAAC Approval
On April 20, 2025, China’s largest civilian amphibious aircraft, the AVIC AG600 Kunlong, received its type certification from the Civil Aviation Administration of China, concluding a development process that began in 2009. With a maximum takeoff weight of 60 tons, the AG600 surpasses all other active civilian water-landing aircraft and demonstrates China’s growing prowess in specialized aviation sectors. The certification paves the way for the aircraft’s official entry into service and signals AVIC’s readiness to begin production later this year.
The AG600 offers a maximum range of 4,500 kilometers at a cruise speed of 220 kilometers per hour, making it well suited for both maritime patrol and long-distance support missions. In its aerial-firefighting configuration, the aircraft can scoop and drop up to 12 tons of water, more than double the capacity of the Canadair CL-415 that has long dominated the market. When tasked with search-and-rescue operations, the AG600 can retrieve up to 50 survivors from open water in a single mission, providing critical emergency response capabilities for island and coastal communities.
Achieving type certification completes more than 15 years of research, design and testing. After its maiden flight in 2017, the AG600 underwent extensive flight and water-dropping trials, culminating in its first firefighting tests in 2023. AVIC now expects to receive a production certificate later in 2025 and begin deliveries of the first production units in October, marking the transition from prototype to commercial manufacture. Early customers are likely to include domestic maritime agencies and international partners seeking modern amphibious platforms.
Though China previously developed the Harbin SH-5 in the 1970s, only seven aircraft were ever built and the type is no longer in service. By contrast, the AG600 was conceived with export markets in mind and is positioned to compete directly with other large amphibious aircraft such as Russia’s Beriev Be-200 and the upcoming Canadair CL-515. With its combination of payload, range and modern avionics, the Kunlong aims to attract customers in fire-prone and maritime regions worldwide.
The emergence of the AG600 also reflects mounting strategic priorities in the Pacific region, where archipelagic geography and escalating great-power rivalry heighten demand for long-range, multi-role aircraft. As island security, disaster relief and environmental protection become increasingly important, platforms capable of operating from both land and water offer unique operational flexibility. China’s investment in the AG600 underscores its commitment to securing humanitarian and patrol presence across vast maritime zones.
As AVIC transitions the Kunlong from prototype to production, the AG600’s certification represents a milestone for China’s aerospace industry. By combining heavy-lift water-dropping, mass-rescue and extended-range patrol capabilities, the aircraft sets a new benchmark for civilian amphibious aviation. With deliveries slated to begin in late 2025, the AG600 is poised to enter service at a time when demand for versatile, high-capacity platforms has never been greater.
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