China’s Amphibious Aircraft AG600 Takes Its First Ground Test

Reuters: China-built amphibious aircraft takes maiden flight: Xinhua

China's domestically developed AG600, the world's largest amphibious aircraft, took its maiden flight ahead of schedule on Saturday from the southern city of Zhuhai, according to the official Xinhua news agency.

The AG600 was designed to extinguish forest fires and carry out rescue missions at sea, Xinhua said on Saturday, adding that it could also "be used to monitor and protect the ocean."

The seaplane's maiden flight comes amid China's increasing assertiveness to its territorial claims in the disputed South China Sea where it is building airfields and deploying military equipment, rattling nerves in the Asia-Pacific region and the United States.

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Update: Watch China's AG600, World’s Largest Amphibious Aircraft Pass First Ground Test -- Sputnik

WNU Editor: They are ahead of schedule.