Breaking News: China's AG600 Amphibious Seaplane Ready for Certification and Maritime Operations.

On March 2, 2025, China announced that the AG600, the country’s domestically developed large amphibious seaplane, has successfully completed its flight testing phase and is on the verge of receiving its type certificate from the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC). This marks a significant milestone in the development of the AG600, which is poised to become a key asset in China’s aviation and maritime rescue operations.
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The Chinese-made AG600, the world’s largest operational amphibious seaplane, completes its final test flight. (Picture source: China MoD)

According to a statement from the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC), the state-owned aerospace giant overseeing the aircraft’s development, the AG600 prototype conducted its final flight test on the morning of Friday, March 1, 2025, at a civil aviation testing center in Pucheng, located in Shaanxi Province. This successful flight concludes a rigorous two-year testing program, which saw the aircraft complete a total of 2,014 flights spanning 3,560 hours.

The testing phase involved overcoming numerous challenges in high-risk operations, with the aircraft being tested in diverse environmental conditions. The comprehensive flight trials aimed to validate the AG600’s performance in areas such as amphibious takeoffs, flight stability, and operational readiness. The results have been instrumental in verifying the seaplane's airworthiness, paving the way for its eventual certification and deployment.

The AG600 is China’s second amphibious aircraft model following the SH-5, a military aircraft developed in the 1970s that has long been retired. The AG600 is part of a larger effort by China to establish itself as a dominant player in the global aviation market. It is one of three flagship aircraft that demonstrate the nation’s growing aviation capabilities, alongside the Y-20 strategic transport plane and the C919 narrow-body jetliner. Both the Y-20 and C919 are already in active service, with the C919 making its first flight in 2022.

The AG600 program was officially approved by the Chinese government in June 2009, with research and development kicking off later that year. The program saw the collaboration of tens of thousands of engineers and researchers from over 160 domestic institutes, enterprises, and universities. The first prototype of the AG600 was constructed in 2014 and completed in July 2016. After its debut flight in December 2017 at Zhuhai in Guangdong Province, the aircraft has undergone extensive testing across various regions of China.

With a length of 37 meters and a wingspan of 38.8 meters, the AG600 is roughly the size of a Boeing 737. Its sheer size makes it the world’s largest operational amphibious aircraft, surpassing other notable seaplanes such as Japan’s ShinMaywa US-2 and Russia’s Beriev Be-200. The aircraft is uniquely designed for both ground and water-based operations, making it ideal for a range of missions, from maritime search and rescue to firefighting operations. It has the capacity to rescue up to 50 people during maritime emergencies and can collect 12 metric tons of water from lakes or seas to combat fires. This combination of versatile capabilities positions the AG600 as a valuable asset for China's civil aviation and emergency response efforts.

The AG600 is not only a significant achievement for China's domestic aviation industry but also represents a shift in the balance of global amphibious aircraft technology. As countries like China continue to enhance their aerospace industries, the AG600’s imminent certification is expected to pave the way for its use in both commercial and military sectors.

In conclusion, with its successful flight testing and near-certification, the AG600 stands as a testament to China's growing aviation prowess. Its versatility, size, and capabilities are set to make it a crucial player in both national and international efforts in disaster relief, firefighting, and maritime search and rescue operations. The aircraft’s impending certification is a key milestone in China's broader ambition to become a leading force in the global aviation sector. As China continues to develop and refine its aerospace technology, the AG600 is poised to set new standards in amphibious aviation.