Disclosure of ‘Caspian Sea Monster’ after Passing Sea Test

Ground effect vehicle Xiangzhou-1

On April 6, CCTV published a high-key report on the successful marine test of China’s ground effect vehicle Xiangzhou-1, which is a sea skimmer flying at low attitude above ground and sea with a speed much quicker than a ship but slower than an aircraft. When the first such vehicle developed by the Soviet Union appeared for the first time in the Caspian Sea, it was regarded by people as “Caspian Sea Monster”.
Xiangzhou-1 is 12.7 meters long, 11 meters wide and 3.9 meters high with a maximum takeoff weight of 2.5 tons. Its cruise speed ranges between 140 and 160 km/hr. with a maximum speed of 210 km/hr. The speed may be increased to 500 km/hr for a large ground effect vehicle.
As it uses ground effect, it saves fuel compared with an aircraft but is much quicker than a ship. China plans to use it as a quick means of transport for its islands in the South China Sea.
Source: qianzhan.com “Shocking Emergence of China’s ‘Caspian Sea Monster’ after completing sea test”