Coming Soon in the South China Sea ?: AG600 from China, the largest amphibious aircraft in the world
Coming Soon in the South China Sea ?: AG600 from China, the largest amphibious aircraft in the world
China's AG600, which is believed to be the largest amphibious aircraft in the world, will soon be operational.
The transport plane, the size of a Boeing 737 aircraft, has successfully completed its first water takeoff and landing, according to the state of China. Xinhua News Agency .
"Around 8:51 a.m., the plane took off from the surface of a depot near the Zhanghe Airport of Jingmen under the command of Captain Zhao Sheng and his crew," Xinhua announced. "It landed softly and steadily in the water after a flight of fourteen minutes."
China describes the AG600, built by the Aviation Industry Corporation of China, as a "large-scale, special-purpose civilian aircraft designed to assist in fighting forest fires and rescuing water." It is part of a family of large aircraft that China is developing. Including the military transport Y-20 and the passenger plane C919.
The aircraft has four turbocharged engines and has a maximum take-off weight of fifty-four tons.
"The lower part of the aircraft body is designed as a" V "structure to improve its anti-wave capability," according to Xinhua. "When used to help put out a forest fire, you can collect twelve tons of water at a time and make several trips to look for water. The aircraft can carry out rescue operations at sea in complex weather conditions and can withstand waves of two meters in height. It is capable of transporting fifty people during a maritime search and rescue mission. It also provides support for marine monitoring and the Chinese security patrol. "
The Xinhua announcement contained multiple references to the AG600 and its engines were produced in the country. Since many of China's aircraft are based on Soviet and Russian models, this is a sign that China's indigenous aviation industry is coming of age.
In peaceful circumstances, a giant hydroplane would be more a matter of curiosity or commercial interest. But there is nothing peaceful in the geopolitical situation in the South China Sea, where multiple nations, particularly China, claim sovereignty over scattered islands and resource-rich waters.
An amphibious plane that can transport fifty passengers can also fly an infantry squad to an island in dispute. An amphibious aircraft can deliver troops and supplies when landing in the water, instead of relying on aerodromes that will be prime targets for air and missile attacks.
Therefore, you can forgive China's neighbors for a bit of skepticism that the AG600 is a Smokey the Bear antenna that will put out forest fires. Indeed, Asian military observers let's say that the AG600 can support the bases of the Chinese islands in the South China Sea, as well as provide an excuse for Chinese aircraft to operate in disputed areas under the guise of maritime rescue missions.
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China is not alone in hugging amphibious aircraft. Russia operates several amphibians of the Soviet era , as well as exotic Hybrids of plane and ship "ekranoplan" , like the notorious "Monster of the Caspian Sea".
On the other hand, amphibious aircraft change performance in exchange for the ability to land in the water. During World War II, Japan deployed fighter jets and bombers, including A6M2-N (ally code name "Rufe") , an amphibious version of the famous A6M fighter "Zero". In the vast expanses of the Pacific, where air bases were few and far between, they could be useful. But against the Allied land-based fighters and aircraft-based fighters not taxed by pontoons, a Rufe had little chance.
It's not that any transport plane does well against modern fighter jets and air defenses. But the world's largest seaplane will have to operate in undefended areas or have enough escort.
Michael Peck is a contributing writer for the National Interest. It can be found at Twitter Y Facebook .
Image: Reuters.
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