China's domestically developed AG600, the
world's largest amphibious aircraft, is seen during its maiden flight in
Zhuhai, Guangdong province, China December 24, 2017. REUTERS/Stringer
World's largest amphibious aircraft makes maiden flight
in China
DECEMBER 24, 2017 / 9:45 AM
Reuters Staff
BEIJING (Reuters) - China’s domestically developed AG600,
the world’s largest amphibious aircraft, performed its maiden flight on Sunday
from an airport on the shores of the South China Sea, the latest step in a
military modernization program.
China has stepped up research on advanced military
equipment as it adopts a more muscular approach to territorial disputes in
places such as the disputed South China Sea, rattling nerves in the Asia-Pacific
region and the United States.
State television showed live images of the AG600 lifting
off from Zhuhai airport in the southern province of Guangdong, which sits on
the South China Sea coast.
It returned about an hour later and taxied to its stand
accompanied by martial music and greeted by crowds waving Chinese flags.
Xinhua news agency said the aircraft was the “protector
spirit of the sea, islands and reefs”.
It had previously been scheduled to make its first flight
earlier this year but it is unclear why it was delayed after ground tests took
place in April.
State-owned Aviation Industry Corp of China (AVIC)
[SASADY.UL] has spent almost eight years developing the aircraft, which is
roughly the size of a Boeing Co 737 and is designed to carry out marine rescues
and battle forest fires.
However, state media has also noted its potential use in
the South China Sea, where China, Vietnam, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan
and Brunei all have overlapping claims.
The AG600’s chief designer, Huang Lingcai, was quoted in
the official China Daily earlier this month as saying it can make round trips
without refueling from the southern island province of Hainan to James Shoal,
claimed by China but which is located close to Sarawak in Malaysian Borneo.
Powered by four turboprop engines, the AG600 can carry 50
people during maritime search-and-rescue missions, and can scoop up 12 metric
tons of water within 20 seconds for fire fighting trips, according to state
media.
The aircraft has received 17 orders so far from Chinese
government departments and Chinese companies. It has a maximum flight range of
4,500 km (2,800 miles) and a maximum take-off weight of 53.5 tonnes.
It can use conventional airports and also land and
take-off from the sea.
China is in the midst of a massive military modernization
program, ranging from testing anti-satellite missiles to building stealth
fighters and the country’s first indigenous aircraft carrier, to add to an
existing one bought from Ukraine.
Reporting by Ben Blanchard; Editing by Christopher
Cushing
Original post: reuters.com
Streamed live 5 hours ago
Related articles:
AVIC TA-600 (AG600): Details
No comments:
Post a Comment