Demonstration of China's Flying Water Tank 'Kunlong'

The World's Largest Amphibious Firefighting Aircraft... Holds 12 Tons of Water in 15 Seconds on the Water Surface
Concerns Raised Over Potential Threat if Modified for Military Use in Taiwan Strait Crisis

[Asia Economy Senior Reporter Cho Young-shin] Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) has unveiled the fire suppression capabilities of the world's largest amphibious firefighting aircraft developed independently.

Photo by Xinhua News Agency (captured)

According to Chinese media including People’s Daily Online on the 28th, AVIC conducted a wildfire extinguishing flight test of the amphibious firefighting aircraft AG600M (code-named Kunlong, hereafter Kunlong) at Jingmen Zhanghe Airport in Hubei Province the previous day.

After taking off from Zhanghe Airport, Kunlong moved to a lake, scooped water from the surface, and took off again. It took only 15 seconds to fill the tank with 12 tons of water. Kunlong then flew back into the sky from the lake and poured 12 tons of water all at once at a pre-designated location, according to Chinese media. There are even remarks within China calling it a flying water tank.

Earlier this month, AVIC conducted the first test flight of the second prototype of Kunlong in Zhuhai, Guangdong Province. Chinese media explained that this test was intended to demonstrate Kunlong’s fire suppression capability (fire extinguishing effect when spraying water) in real situations.

Kunlong measures 37 meters in length and has a wingspan of 38.8 meters, similar in size to a Boeing (B) 737 aircraft. It is equipped with four turboprop engines instead of jet engines, enabling takeoff and landing on water.

Kunlong is considered one of China’s three major core aviation industry projects alongside the C919 (passenger aircraft) and the Y-20 transport aircraft (including aerial refueling aircraft). The C919 passenger aircraft is expected to enter commercialization as early as this year, and the Y-20 transport aircraft has already been deployed in active service. AVIC plans to prioritize firefighting supply this year and begin commercialization from 2025. Currently, six units of Kunlong have been pre-ordered. Once delivered, Kunlong will complete the first phase of China’s core aviation industry projects.

Chinese media reported that Kunlong will play a key role in China’s emergency rescue system and will be utilized in various fields such as fire suppression and maritime rescue.

Some voices express suspicion about the development intent of Kunlong, pointing out its potential military use. Kunlong has a range of 4,500 km and a maximum takeoff weight of 60 tons. It can also perform low-speed flights at 220 km/h at low altitudes. If the interior is modified, it can be used as a military transport aircraft. There are concerns that the amphibious Kunlong could play a significant role in the Taiwan Strait.

People’s Daily Online emphasized that Kunlong is an aircraft developed with 100% Chinese indigenous technology and will play an outstanding role in natural disaster situations such as wildfire suppression and maritime rescue.