‘Caspian monster’ tested with missiles

Press, 26 July 1984, Page 9

‘Caspian monster’ tested with missiles

NZPA-AP London The Soviet Navy, building up its amphibious assault forces, plans to test a giant surface-skimming craft known as the “Caspian Monster” with long-range antiship missiles, “Jane’s Defence Weekly” reports. The article follows earlier Western intelligence reports that the Soviets have also been testing the strangelooking craft as an assault ship carrying up to 900 combat soldiers. Experts believe the Soviets are far more advanced in developing these new craft than the Americans. The craft could radically alter the notion of rapid deployment and allow commanders to land large numbers of assault troops with battle tanks almost anywhere in the world within days, they say. “There is no doubt that they would spearhead sea landing operations which require the elements of speed and surprise to overcome and occupy vital defensive positions, such as the

chokepoints on the Bosphorus, in the Baltic, Mediterranean and the North Sea,”4he article said. Soviet Commanders, led by the Navy chief, Admiral of the Fleet, Sergei Gorshkov, have endorsed the idea. The craft has the edge over conventional assault ships and transport planes because it can carry heavier payloads more economically. It also is not affected by sea conditions, fog, tides, or obstacles such as minefields because it skims over them. In a battle zone, it. can manoeuvre at high speed over land or water and can get in and out faster than conventional craft. The craft, which cruises over water at heights of up to 14 metres, is a jetpowered fuselage with stubby wings. It is known in the West as a power-aug-mented ram wing-in-ground effect machine, or Par-Wig. The Soviets call it an Ekranoplan. “Jane’s” reported that the Soviets now plan to arm the 60-metre long experimental

Ekranoplan, named after the sea where it has been tested, with at least two SSN22 wave-hopping' missiles to turn it into a formidable fighting craft. The radar-guided SSN22, main armament on the Soviets’ Sovremenny-class destroyers, has a range of about 40 kilometres. If the missile tests are successful, “Jane’s”'.said, the craft “could become one of the Soviet Navy’s corvette classes of the 19905. At present it has no counterpart in the West.” The experimental craft, one of several versions of the “Caspian monster,” has a wingspan of 31m and cruises at an estimated 150 knots (277 k/hr), “Jane’s” sail At full power it can reach speeds of up to 300 knots, it said. At take-off, the thrust from forward engines is deflected down, creating a cushion of pressure under the wings. The closer the craft flies to the surface, the more effective the air cushion in providing lift.