Singapore Airshow: COMAC secures first order for C909 firefighting aircraft
February 3, 2026
China’s Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC) has secured the first commercial order for its C909 firefighting aircraft, announcing a deal for six aircraft as the 2026 Singapore Airshow opened on Tuesday.
The agreement, signed with Shanxi Victory General Aviation, includes three firm orders and three letters of intent, marking the first known commitment by a civil operator to COMAC’s jet-based aerial firefighting concept.
The C909 firefighting variant received airworthiness approval from the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) in December 2025, clearing the way for operational deployment after several years of development and testing.
What is the COMAC C909 firefighting aircraft?
The C909 firefighting aircraft is a special-mission conversion of COMAC’s C909 regional jet, formerly marketed internationally as the ARJ21. Unlike purpose-built amphibious scoopers, the aircraft is designed as a land-based aerial firefighting platform, prioritising speed, payload and operational flexibility.
Key features of the variant include:
- An internal water or fire-retardant tank with a maximum payload of 10 tonnes
- Seating for up to 19 personnel, allowing combined suppression, command and transport missions
- Structural and systems adaptations for low-level, demanding flight profiles
- Capability to operate from short and narrow runways, including in high-temperature and high-altitude conditions
Rather than competing directly with water-scooping aircraft such as the Canadair CL-415 or ShinMaywa US-2, COMAC is positioning the C909 as a rapid-response tanker capable of covering large distances quickly and operating from inland bases closer to fire-prone regions.
First market validation for COMAC’s firefighting aircraft
While COMAC has previously displayed medical, emergency and government-configured C909 aircraft, the Shanxi Victory deal represents the first disclosed market-driven order for the firefighting variant.
The structure of the agreement, combining firm orders with letters of intent, suggests a cautious but meaningful entry into service.
The order also signals COMAC’s intent to expand beyond passenger transport into special-mission aviation, an area traditionally dominated by converted Western airliners, military derivatives or purpose-built turboprop platforms.
Why choose a C909 over established firefighting aircraft?
For operators, the appeal of the C909 lies less in novelty than in operational trade-offs.
Jet-based firefighting aircraft offer:
- Faster transit speeds, enabling rapid redeployment across large regions
- Higher payloads than light turboprop tankers, without the cost of heavy widebody conversions
- Greater multi-role flexibility, allowing use outside peak fire season for logistics or emergency transport
In China’s case, domestic certification, supply chain access and industrial policy alignment also play a significant role. Procuring a locally produced aircraft simplifies regulatory oversight and long-term support, particularly as geopolitical uncertainty continues to shape aviation procurement decisions.
COMAC has also emphasised that the C909 can operate from constrained airfields, allowing aircraft to be based closer to forested or mountainous regions rather than relying on major hubs.
Singapore Airshow showcases COMAC’s growing special-mission portfolio
The firefighting order was announced as COMAC stepped up its international presence at Singapore Airshow. On display this year are the company’s COMAC C919, a C909 medical aircraft and a C909 operated by Indonesia’s TransNusa Aviation, with the C919 scheduled to perform a flight demonstration during the show.
The medical aircraft is being shown in Southeast Asia for the first time. Converted from the baseline C909, it features ophthalmic diagnostic and treatment facilities and can be reconfigured for medical evacuation and casualty transport, highlighting the platform’s adaptability.
COMAC said more than 200 C909 and C919 aircraft have now been delivered, operating on over 800 routes and carrying more than 36 million passengers to date.
Featured image: COMAC
