Chapter 1282 AG600 Amphibious Aircraft

An aerial refueling aircraft is an aircraft that is specially used to refuel aircraft and helicopters in flight.

Most aerial refueling aircraft in the world are modified from large transport aircraft or strategic bombers.

The role of aerial refueling aircraft is to increase the range, endurance and payload of military aircraft such as fighter jets to improve the combat capability of the air force.

Since the birth of aerial refueling technology in 1923, aerial refueling has always been an important indicator of a military power.

In today's world, there are very few countries that have mastered aerial refueling technology.

Before this, China's largest aerial refueling aircraft was an improved refueling aircraft based on the Il-76.

The Y-20 refueling aircraft is defined as the next generation of China's Air Force fighter "range extender"!

According to the indicators of the Y-20 refueling aircraft, it can carry a maximum of 70 tons of fuel under the condition of optimizing the internal fuselage structure. This fuel load indicator is the fuel prepared for the fighter.

Generally, the fuel of the refueling aircraft is divided into two uses, one is the fuselage fuel required for its own flight. This type of fuel meets the needs of its own round-trip mission area. Although it can directly provide transportation for fighters in an emergency, it also means that the tanker itself will face the danger of insufficient fuel and shortened range.

The other type is the fuel prepared for fighters. Since tankers are often converted from transport aircraft, the fuselage space is very sufficient to provide sufficient fuel supply for fighters.

The Y-20 tanker has a carrying capacity of 70 tons of fuel without calculating its own fuel needs, so that a single Y-20 tanker can at least meet the refueling needs of a "four-aircraft formation" of a J-20 fighter at a time, which directly doubles their range.

As for the Y-20 large electronic warfare aircraft, this is also inevitable.

Modern warfare is an informationized war and a high-tech war. The importance of electronic warfare has long been fully reflected.

The Y-20 has a larger upgrade space inside the fuselage, and more large antennas, radars and interference or anti-interference devices can be arranged, which will significantly increase the combat capability of special aircraft.

Prior to this, China's domestically produced large electronic warfare aircraft was improved on the basis of the Y-8 and Y-9.

Limited by the space of Y-8 and Y-9, the performance of domestic large electronic warfare aircraft is limited, far inferior to the large electronic warfare aircraft improved on the basis of Il-76.

This is the role of strategic transport aircraft!

Strategic transport aircraft is not only a transport aircraft, it can also be used as a large tanker, a large early warning aircraft, and a large electronic warfare aircraft!

After visiting the Y-20 strategic transport aircraft, they came to a place where there was a somewhat peculiar large aircraft.

This is the 'AG600' amphibious aircraft developed by Guizhou Fei Group.

The so-called amphibious aircraft has a unique ability to take off and land on water, which can withstand the huge impact force when landing on the water and absorb the impact energy.

Compared with helicopters, its take-off and landing conditions are lower and it is not easily affected by bad weather, so it can better meet the needs of various tasks.

This type of aircraft is mainly used for maritime patrols, anti-submarine, rescue and sports!

In terms of seaplanes, China purchased six Be-6 seaplanes from the Soviet Union in 1955. This model was developed based on the "Catrina" and mainly performs tasks such as long-distance reconnaissance, near-shore patrol, anti-ship and anti-submarine, mine-laying and minesweeping, and maritime search and rescue.

The Be-6 seaplane adopts a high-wing, double-vertical tail layout, equipped with two ASH-73 piston engines (2,500 horsepower each), with a maximum flight speed of 415 kilometers per hour, a maximum range of 4,500 kilometers, and a flight time of up to 16 hours. 6 crew members, maximum take-off weight of 29 tons, can carry a maximum of 4 tons of ammunition (torpedoes, mines, depth charges and bombs), and self-defense weapons include 5 23mm machine guns.

Due to its long range and long air time, it was also called a "long-range reconnaissance anti-submarine bomber" during its service. The cabin can sometimes pull some people or supplies and is also called a "long-range transport aircraft."

By the mid-1960s, due to the hostility between the two sides, the six aging Be-6 seaplanes also began a mid-term life extension plan, and were later improved and named Qing-6 seaplanes.

In 1968, China began to develop the H-5, completed the water take-off and landing test in 1976, and was put into service in 1986.

The maximum take-off weight of the H-5 is 45 tons, the maximum flight speed is 556 kilometers per hour, the maximum range is 4,900 meters, and the maximum endurance time is 12 hours. It can carry torpedoes, depth charges, aerial bombs, air-to-air missiles and other anti-submarine weapons, and self-defense weapons include 23mm machine guns. It also has an external water-drawing capacity of up to 8 tons, a water take-off distance of 500 meters, a landing distance of about 800 meters, and a site requirement of 2.5 meters deep, 1,500 meters long, and 200 meters wide.

The AG600 amphibious aircraft is China's third-generation amphibious aircraft, with a maximum take-off weight of 53.5 tons. It is the largest amphibious aircraft in service and under development in the world.

This aircraft was developed to meet the needs of forest fire fighting and water emergency rescue.

When performing forest fire fighting tasks, it can draw 12 tons of water in 20 seconds, and the aircraft can travel back and forth between the water source and the fire site multiple times to drop water to extinguish the fire.

When performing water rescue tasks, the aircraft has a minimum stable flight altitude of 50 meters, and can be moored on the water to carry out rescue operations, and can rescue up to 50 people in distress at a time.

Of course, when necessary, the AG600 amphibious aircraft can also be used for military purposes.

As China attaches more and more importance to maritime rights, it naturally attaches more and more importance to amphibious aircraft.

So the AG600 amphibious aircraft came into being.

At this time, the nose of the AG600 amphibious aircraft is wearing a big red flower, which looks like a new recruit who is about to join the army. There is a festive red banner on it, which reads - Embrace the sea and the sky.

But tomorrow, the final assembly and roll-off ceremony of the AG600 amphibious aircraft will be held.

China needs about 40 to 50 of this aircraft.

The demand overseas is about 100.

China does not need it much and uses AG600 for military use, but many countries need it.

For example, Saudi Arabia, if the AG600 is properly modified, will greatly strengthen Saudi Arabia's control and voice in the Red Sea, the Persian Gulf, and the Arabian Sea.

Of course, whether it is forest fire fighting or maritime rescue, this AG600 is a magical weapon.

For example, the Maldives needs a few aircraft to rescue passengers in distress at sea at critical moments. The countries in Southeast Asia also need this amphibious aircraft.

One of the important reasons why Liu Tao stayed in Guizhou Aircraft Group was to participate in the final assembly and roll-off ceremony of AG600.

In the evening, he did not eat in the cafeteria, but went to Yang Wei's house for dinner.

Yang Wei's wife cooked a few dishes, and Yang Wei opened a bottle of white wine.

However, neither of them was a drinker, and they only drank a few glasses of wine in the end.

During the meal, Liu Tao also revealed his arrangement for him so that he could have a good mental preparation.

Not only should we cultivate high-end technical talents, but we should also strengthen our management ability and cultivate corresponding talents. (End of this chapter)