The nose section of China's large amphibious aircraft AG600 prototype has rolled off the production line and been delivered at AVIC Chengdu Aircraft Industrial (Group) Co., Ltd., marking a new step toward its maiden flight in the first half of 2016, the AVIC General Aircraft Company announced on March 17, 2015.

The 9.5-meter-long nose section consists of 5,200 components. The AG600, intended to be the world's largest amphibian, has a takeoff weight of 53.5 tonnes. It can collect 12 tonnes of water in 20 seconds and could be used to fight forest fires and in marine rescue missions.

AG600 aircraft is one of three large-scale civil aircraft programs approved by China's State Council, and also the first one launched after the restructuring of AVIC.

The amphibious aircraft AG600 will have its maiden flight in 2016 after its final assembly by the end of 2015, the AVIC General Aircraft Company said on Tuesday.