Crazy Ivan...Ekranoplan in the Caspian Sea

Lun-class ekranoplan

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lun-class_ekranoplan

The Lun-class ekranoplan (NATO reporting name Duck) is a ground effect vehicle
(GEV) designed by Rostislav Evgenievich Alexeyev and used by the Soviet and
Russian navies from 1987 until sometime in the late 1990s.[1][2]

It flew using the lift generated by the ground effect of its large wings when
close to the surface of the water–about 4 metres (13 ft) or less. Although they
might look similar and have related technical characteristics, ekranoplans like
the Lun are not aircraft, seaplanes, hovercraft, nor hydrofoils–ground effect is
a separate technology altogether. The International Maritime Organization
classifies these vehicles as maritime ships

The Lun was powered with eight Kuznetsov NK-87 turbofans, mounted on forward
canards, each producing 127.4 kN (28,600 lbf) of thrust. It had a flying boat
hull with a large deflecting plate at the bottom to provide a "step" for
takeoff.[4] It had a maximum cruising speed of 340 miles per hour (550 km/h).[2]

Equipped for anti-surface warfare, it carried the P-270 Moskit (Mosquito) guided
missile. Six missile launchers were mounted in pairs on the dorsal surface of
its fuselage with advanced tracking systems mounted in its nose and tail.[5]

The only model of this class ever built, the MD-160, entered service with the
Black Sea Fleet in 1987. It was retired in the late 1990s and is now sitting
unused at a naval station in Kaspiysk.[2][6][7]

Another version of Lun was planned for use as a mobile field hospital for rapid
deployment to any ocean or coastal location. It was named the Spasatel
("Rescuer"). Work was about 90% done, when the military funding ended, and it
was never completed.

General characteristics
Crew: 15 (6 officers, 9 enlisted)
Capacity: 137 t (302,000 lb)
Length: 73.8 m (242 ft 2 in)
Wingspan: 44 m (144 ft 4 in)
Height: 19.2 m (63 ft 0 in)
Wing area: 550 m2 (5,900 sq ft)
Empty weight: 286,000 kg (630,522 lb)
Max takeoff weight: 380,000 kg (837,757 lb)
Powerplant: 8 × Kuznetsov NK-87 turbofans, 127.4 kN (28,600 lbf) thrust each

Performance
Maximum speed: 550 km/h (342 mph; 297 kn)
Cruising speed: 450 km/h (280 mph; 243 kn) at 2.5 m (8 ft)
Range: 2,000 km (1,243 mi; 1,080 nmi)
Service ceiling: 7,500 m (24,606 ft) or 5 m (16 ft) in ground effect

Armament
Guns: two 23mm Pl-23 cannon in a twin tail turret and two 23mm Pl-23 cannon in a
twin turret under forward missile tubes
Missiles: six launchers for SS-N-22 Sunburn antiship missiles





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