Caspian Sea Monster (Russian: Экраноплан) is a ground effect vehicle designed by the Central Design Bureau of the former Soviet Union Using the Pterodacty effect, and its appearance can be said to be quite sci-fi, shouldering the task of long-range attacks on aircraft carriers or surface ships or even land attacks!
Caspian monsters
Western countries discovered its existence through satellite photos, and because of its large size and discovery in the Caspian Sea, NATO gave it the nickname Caspian Sea Monster!
With a range of 7,500 kilometers, the Caspian Sea Monster can transport 850 soldiers around the world at a speed of 800 kilometers per hour, and it is difficult to be detected by radar! The Caspian Monster Ground Effect Vehicle has a powerful attack firepower and is equipped with 6 SS-N-22 Sergeant supersonic anti-ship missiles.
The ground effect vehicles of the Alekseyev Central Design Bureau are mainly for military use. It can be used to launch missiles, anti-submarine and surprise landings. In 1963, the Volga plant of the Design Bureau began construction of ground effect vehicles at the request of the Navy. In 1966, the first flight of the aircraft was successful, and the volume was also expanding.
Caspian monsters have experienced two crashes, one in 1969 and the other in 1980. For the first time, due to heavy fog on the sea, the pilot could not distinguish the horizon, causing large waves to lapped at the fuselage and eventually crashed. The second accident was due to pilot error. But it provides a lot of valuable data for the subsequent development of a series of ground effect aircraft. A total of 2 ships were built, but the second one was not completed.