Author: Tianlang, [Military Secondary Dimension]

Recently, the foreign military observation website "The War Zone" has released high-resolution photos of a new Chinese ground effect vehicle, indicating that this vehicle, known as the "Bohai Monster," has entered the testing phase. It features a unique hull-shaped fuselage, a high-wing layout, and four jet engines. Combined with previous Chinese exploration in the "Albatross" series of ground effect vehicles, analysts believe it may take on long-range rapid transport, amphibious assault, and anti-ship strike missions in the South China Sea, becoming an important tactical equipment in future disputed waters.

▲Related report on The War Zone website

A ground effect vehicle refers to a special aircraft that uses the "ground effect" principle to fly just a few meters above the ground. They combine the speed of airplanes with the cargo capacity of ships, while avoiding the threat of mines and submarines. On the sea surface, they are almost undetectable by radar, making them a kind of "gray weapon" with both stealth and penetration capabilities. The most famous ground effect vehicle in history is the Soviet Union's "Caspian Sea Monster" and "Bird of Paradise" ground effect vehicles, which were once designed for long-range raids against U.S. aircraft carrier battle groups. Now, with advances in materials and propulsion technology, China is trying to revive this once-stagnant high-potential platform.

From the photos revealed by The War Zone, this Chinese ground effect vehicle is likely an enlarged version of the Albatross-5: it maintains a hull-shaped fuselage and V-tail configuration, uses four high-positioned jet engines, providing strong power and avoiding the risk of water spray and foreign object ingestion. The body obviously has been aerodynamically optimized, featuring good lift-to-drag ratio and wave resistance. Its estimated takeoff weight is between 10 to 20 tons, capable of carrying 30 armed soldiers or several tons of supplies. The aircraft currently lacks obvious weapon mounts or radar integration interfaces, indicating its current focus on verification platforms and transportation purposes. However, it cannot be ignored that this structure has the potential to be upgraded with anti-ship missiles, early warning radars, or communication relay systems in the future.

▲Albatross-5 ground effect vehicle

Looking at future operations, the most likely deployment direction for China's ground effect vehicles would be the South China Sea and the Taiwan Strait. For example, in the South China Sea, the distance between China's islands and the mainland ranges from 300 to 1500 kilometers. Currently, transporting by ship takes a long time, and there is a high risk of being intercepted during wartime. Ground effect vehicles can quickly shuttle between islands at speeds over 200 km/h, achieving "hour-level" rapid troop deployment.

For example, the journey from Sanya, Hainan to Yongxing Island by ship takes 15 hours, while a ground effect vehicle could reach there in about 2 hours, without requiring large ports, only needing about 500 meters of water surface for takeoff and landing. This response speed and mobility flexibility are of great significance in island capture, resupply, and reinforcement operations in disputed waters.

Further, if future modifications add missiles, it could become an anti-ship platform for low-altitude penetration - flying close to the sea surface in "skimming mode" at high speed, almost undetectable by conventional radar. Once close to U.S. warships, it could launch a deadly attack. This capability could become a "black technology" to break the opponent's anti-access/area denial (A2/AD) system.

▲The Caspian Sea Monster launching anti-ship missiles

Notably, the United States has paid close attention to the development of China's ground effect vehicles. The U.S. military is also developing the "Liberty Lifter" large ground effect vehicle, aiming to achieve long-range transportation and rapid deployment capabilities in the future Pacific battlefield. Obviously, both China and the United States have realized the limitations of traditional ship and aircraft transport systems in "distributed warfare," and ground effect vehicles may become a key variable in future conflicts.

In this undercurrent of technological competition, the first appearance of the "Bohai Monster" indicates that the PLA may already be leading. Especially with the natural advantage of China's extensive coastline and dense islands, if ground effect vehicles can achieve mass production and tactical application, it will give the PLA an unprecedented rapid deployment and surprise capability.

▲U.S. "Liberty Lifter" ground effect vehicle concept image

Certainly, ground effect vehicles are not perfect. Their ability to withstand wind and waves, all-weather flight capability, radar and communication integration, are all practical challenges that restrict their large-scale deployment. For example, the Albatross-5 had a dangerous situation in windy weather, indicating that it is still unreliable in harsh sea conditions. In addition, the development of ground effect vehicles requires mastering both aerodynamics and hydrodynamics, combining aviation and shipbuilding technologies, and having high requirements for the industrial system.

In terms of strategic application, how to achieve efficient command and control, air support, and integration with joint operation systems also needs further breakthroughs. But even as a "theater-level transport platform," ground effect vehicles can reshape the PLA's mobile combat form, especially in responding to distant island attacks, rapid reinforcement of coast guard and marine corps.

▲The Chinese ground effect vehicle known as the "Bohai Monster"

From the "Albatross" to the "Bohai Monster," China's exploration of ground effect vehicles has quietly moved from the experimental stage to the practical conceptualization stage. It may not appear at air shows like the J-20, but in a future crisis in the Taiwan Strait or South China Sea, this low-key yet fast, stealthy, and lethal weapon might become a "game-changer." As technology matures and mass production becomes available, ground effect vehicles may become another new pillar of China's military power projection system - especially in those "gray zone conflicts" where it is not suitable to expose too many ships or rely on fighter aircraft for transport.

Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7524168816398664192/

Statement: This article represents the views of the author. Please express your opinion below using the 【up/down】 buttons.