China’s COMAC signs agreement for six C909 firefighting aircraft

China’s planemaker COMAC said it has signed an agreement covering six C909 firefighting aircraft during the opening of the Singapore Airshow.

According to the manufacturer, the agreement with China-based Shanxi Victory General Aviation includes three firm orders and three additional commitments of intent. The firefighting variant of the C909 received airworthiness approval from China’s civil aviation regulator in December 2025.

COMAC is displaying multiple aircraft at the airshow, including a C919 narrowbody, a C909 medical aircraft and a C909 operated by Indonesia’s TransNusa Aviation. The C919 is scheduled to perform a flight demonstration during the event.

The C909 is a regional jet that can be configured for 78 to 97 passengers and is designed to operate from short and narrow runways, as well as in high-temperature and high-altitude conditions.

The firefighting version features a water tank with a maximum payload of 10 tonnes and seating for up to 19 personnel, allowing it to support aerial firefighting and emergency response missions in varied terrain.

COMAC said more than 200 C909 and C919 aircraft have been delivered so far, operating on more than 800 routes and carrying over 36 million passengers. In Southeast Asia, the company said the C909 is already in service in Indonesia, Laos and Vietnam, where nine aircraft operated by TransNusa, Lao Airlines and VietJet Air have opened more than 20 routes.

The Singapore Airshow also marks the first time COMAC has displayed a C909 medical aircraft in Southeast Asia. Converted from the standard passenger model, the aircraft is equipped for medical diagnosis and treatment and can be configured for casualty transport and medical evacuation missions.

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