AG600 seaplane. (Photo : AVIC)
The People's Liberation Army (PLA) will soon receive its first AVIC AG600 -- the world's largest seaplane -- that will facilitate the process of supplying its far flung garrisons spread out among China's man-made islands in the disputed South China Sea.
The AG600, which can carry 50 passengers or soldiers, will make its maiden flight before the first half of the year, said China Aviation Industry General Aircraft Company (CAIGA), the seaplane's developer, which is also a subsidiary of aerospace firm the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC).
CAIGA said AG600 deliveries of the seaplane will begin in 2021. Its engineers are carrying out final tests on the AG600 before the plane's first flight. The company said 46 out of 53 tests have been completed.
After the tests are completed, pilots will train aboard the two test aircraft and practice maneuvers. Certification procedures are expected to be completed by 2020.
CAIGA said the first plane will be delivered to the State Forestry Administration, which will use it to fight forest fires. The biggest user of the AG600, however, is expected to be the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN), which is expected to receive most of the first 17 planes to be made.
CAIGA launched the AG600 project in September 2009 to fill the gap in China's lack of amphibious aircraft, which is now more acute given the military situation in the South China Sea.
The AG600 will have a maximum takeoff weight of 53.5 metric tons and an operational range of about 4,500 kilometers. This will be more than enough to cover the 1,600 km distance from the southernmost Chinese island of Hainan to James Shoal, which China illegally claims is the southernmost part of its territory despite this feature being within Malaysia's exclusive economic zone.
James Shoal is only 80 km northwest of the town of Bintulu in Malaysia as against 1,600 km from Hainan.
CAIGA said the AG600 will play an important role in fighting forest fires, maritime search and rescue, the transportation of military passengers and supplies to islands and law enforcement.
The AG600 will give China the ability to more quickly reinforce the military garrisons on its man-made islands in the South China Sea. The Permanent Court of Arbitration on July 12, 2016 declared China has no legal rights to claim most of the South China Sea. The same court also found China had infringed on the Philippines' territorial rights. China has unilaterally dismissed the ruling.
