Watch: China-built AG600 amphibious aircraft takes maiden ground test

The seaplane’s first ground test 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.

China’s domestically developed AG600, the world’s largest amphibious aircraft, took its maiden ground test on Saturday in the southern city of Zhuhai, according to the official Xinhua news agency.

Officials of Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) unveil the newly-made nose of amphibious aircraft AG600, during a ceremony at a factory in Chengdu, Sichuan province. (Reuters)

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

Large amphibious aircraft AG600 makes 1st glide test. As world's largest, it will embark on maiden land flight soon pic.twitter.com/HhIOTiSndQ

— China Xinhua News (@XHNews) May 2, 2017

The seaplane’s first ground test 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.

China is in the midst of a massive military modernisation programme, 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.

Xinhua reported in March that the AG600 was due to make its maiden flight in late May.