China has resurrected the ekranoplane, the Soviet flying marine monster

The most bizarre and monstrous plane of the former Soviet Union has just gained a second life in China.

A granulated photograph published on Chinese social networks this month revealed what defense analysts believe is the most ambitious ekranoplane built in decades.

The aircraft – which earned the name of “Monstro do mar de bohai” – She was sighted at the bottom of an unveiled Chinese coastal installation, says the.

According to analysts, this is the biggest leap in the design of the so -called “soil aircraft” since the Cold War, when the Soviet Union terrified the born with these monstrous flying war ships that roar just a few meters above the sea sea.

Now China seems to have risen the ghost of the old Soviet monster.

Ekranoplanes are aircraft that slide even above the surface of the water. When flying on a compressed air pillow attached between their wings and the sea, they cut through resistance with remarkable fuel efficiency.

But how they operate just a few meters above sea levelthe most important feature of these aircraft can remain undetectable by most radar systems.

The Soviets, always in love with hybrid machinesthey invested very strongly in this type of aircraft during the Cold War. Its iconic colossi, such as the Lun class of Ekranoplanes, were part of aircraft, part of boat, part hovercraft – And all ambition.

After the USSR’s collapse, the Ekranoplano dream faded due to the lack of funding. Now this dream may have been risen.

The recently spotted Chinese aircraft It’s not just a concept: There is really – imposing, painted in a gray that gives it low visibility and equipped with Four prominent jet engines assembled above their short wings.

A T -design design with double vertical stabilizers confirms that it was built more for stability on a ground effect flight than for high altitude maneuvers.

“It’s a new type and previously not reported from aircraft,” says the. Your mirrored silhouette previous experiences of Chinese ekranoplanebut this is much larger and, crucially, military appearance.

Why would China be resurrected such an obscure technology? Partially, by simple need, given China’s copious investments in their navy – in what many see as a Preparation for a massive invasion of Taiwan.

On the other hand, China may be doing this simply because it can.

Its size and design suggest that it can be a amphibian assault vehicle fast. It seems able to carry troops or light vehicles to enemy back faster and discreetly than conventional vessels.

This approach may align with China’s growing interest in a strategy of maritime projection of powerparticularly around Taiwan and in.

And if the United States and its allies have passed decades to prepare for a war with missile attacks and air robberies, they may soon face a threatening completely new: A machine that flies too low to be seen and too fast to be stopped.

The sea monster, it seems, finally found new waters.