AG600 completes four-month forest firefighting deployment in northern China
In short
The domestically built AG600 “Kunlong” amphibious aircraft finished four months of forest aviation emergency duty and firefighting standby based at Jiagedaqi in the north, according to China News Service, citing the Aviation Industry Corporation of China. Over the deployment it flew 35 forest patrol sorties, logged 100 safe flight hours and dropped about 390 tonnes of water. The aircraft will next be stationed on a routine basis, the report said.
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The AG600 “Kunlong” amphibious aircraft has completed its 2026 garrison mission at Jiagedaqi, ending four months of forest aviation emergency duty and firefighting standby, China News Service reported on 5 October, citing the Aviation Industry Corporation of China. According to both Yicai and China News Service, the aircraft flew 35 forest patrol sorties, logged 100 hours of safe flight and dropped about 390 tonnes of water in total during the deployment. [ 1 , 2 ]
China News Service said the deployment included participation in a forest fire drill in the Greater Khingan Range primary forest area, where the aircraft used what the report described as low-altitude, low-speed flight, large water-carrying capacity and strong maneuverability. According to that account, it carried out ground-air coordination and cluster attacks on crown fires, and the four months tested the domestically built heavy air emergency rescue equipment’s ability to launch and fight fires in complex northern forest conditions. The China News Service account was the more detailed of the two; Yicai’s coverage was limited to a headline repeating the same sortie, flight-hour and water-drop figures. [ 2 ]
The report described the AG600 as an aircraft China developed on its own to meet needs in forest firefighting and maritime rescue, and as the world’s largest civil amphibious aircraft by maximum takeoff weight. It said the aircraft will next be stationed on a routine basis, which it described as opening a new model for forest fire prevention and control. [ 2 ]
Why it matters
The reported plan to keep the AG600 on routine standby points to a shift from trials toward regular operational use of the large amphibious aircraft in forest firefighting, as described by the official outlet that carried the programme’s account. The stated purpose of the aircraft is forest firefighting and maritime rescue, so its operational record is the measure of a state-funded programme that could be called on in future emergency responses.
Key facts
- The AG600 “Kunlong” completed its 2026 garrison mission at Jiagedaqi, ending four months of forest aviation emergency duty and firefighting operation. [ 2 ]
- During the deployment the aircraft carried out 35 forest patrol sorties. [ 1 , 2 ]
- It logged 100 hours of safe flight. [ 1 , 2 ]
- It dropped about 390 tonnes of water in total. [ 1 , 2 ]
- It took part in a forest fire drill in the Greater Khingan Range primary forest area, carrying out ground-air coordination and cluster attacks on crown fires. [ 2 ]
- China News Service described the AG600 as China’s self-developed large special-purpose aircraft for forest firefighting and maritime rescue and the world’s largest civil amphibious aircraft by maximum takeoff weight. [ 2 ]
- The aircraft will next be stationed on a routine basis, which China News Service said would create a new model for forest fire prevention and control. [ 2 ]
Confirmed by several sources
Still unclear
- The start and end dates of the four-month deployment are not given. China News Service says only that the deployment lasted four months and was completed recently, without dates.
- Whether the roughly 390 tonnes of water was dropped on actual fires or during drills is not specified. The article reports the total water dropped and separately describes a firefighting drill, without linking the two.
- The cost of the deployment and whether the AG600 will be based at other sites are not stated. Neither document addresses these points.