China expands its operational fleet with two new multi-purpose firefighting aircraft

It was said that the aircraft could be used for a variety of tasks, such as water dropping, fire monitoring, communications control and transport.

The ministry said the aircraft would expand the country’s disaster relief capabilities as they could operate over long distances and be used to transport water, relief workers and cargo. They would be deployed alongside other aircraft in the rescue fleet, including helicopters and unmanned aerial vehicles.

AVIC took three years to develop the new aircraft, the ministry said. The planes are equipped with a fire monitoring system and a precision system for dispensing fire retardant, both of which were developed in China.

The ministry highlighted the aircraft’s self-developed aerodynamic design as well as the construction of its pressure tank for water droplets.

The MA60 is an improved version of the Xian Y7-200A, which was based on the Soviet-era Antonov An-24 and was built for harsh conditions with limited ground support and short takeoff and landing capabilities.

State-owned AVIC announced last month that another firefighting aircraft under development – the AG600 Kunlong – had begun test flights for airworthiness approval from the Civil Aviation Administration of China. The large amphibious aircraft, which can scoop and drop water on forest fires, is expected to be certified this year and deliveries will begin in 2025.

The AG600 Kunlong has about twice the capacity of the Xinzhou 60. According to AVIC, it can hold up to 12 tons of water in 20 seconds during a firefighting operation. It can also be used to rescue up to 50 people from the sea during a search and rescue mission.

According to a July report by the ministry, 204 forest fires were recorded in China in the first half of this year, a record low. However, the risk of forest fires in the north, northeast and southwest of the country remains high.

The ministry said three grassland fires were reported in the first half of the year in April and May, all in the Inner Mongolia region.

In April, five people in the southwestern province of Guizhou were sentenced to prison terms of up to 18 months for negligence that caused forest fires.