Any ideas about the possible uses for these things?
Mostly for patrol in rivers and lakes. China border patrol has been using ground effect vehicles along Heilongjiang (Amur river) for many decades.Any ideas about the possible uses for these things?
Is that really needed? It's not like there's enemies in our lakes right... A boat would be less resource intensive.Mostly for patrol in rivers and lakes. China border patrol has been using ground effect vehicles along Heilongjiang (Amur river) for many decades.
They are more suitable for calm waters due to the heights of their flight level.
In 2002, US, Boeing came up with Pelican Ultra for travel over ocean but the project never go beyond concept. They are now developing Liberty Lifter, a GE vehicle with C-17 capacity, first flight is planned for 2028.
The fact that enkranoplans can only be used in calm water too. It's so limited in every way. Why even fund an experimental craft. The soviets did it already.I believe all this hubbub about the new GEV is massively overblown. Either it flies high enough that it's way less efficient than a conventional aircraft, or it flies low enough to be unusable in any kind of sea state. This is likely just going to be an experimental craft, and will never be adopted by anyone. If the PLA so desperately wants a fast, amphibious cargo vessel, there are a litany of amphibious aircraft available or in development.
Plus, it's not like GEV have any inherent survivability due to their design either. Ships can be escorted and/or have their own defenses, aircraft can fly, GEV will be deficient at both.
It is Border patrol, PLAGF patrol all land borders from from north to south, east to west. GEV is nothing sophisticated, it is just a cheap flying truck that transports a squad of soldier, and it is not armed. A helicopter would be much more expensive.Is that really needed? It's not like there's enemies in our lakes right... A boat would be less resource intensive.
Do you have any images? All I can find when I search up "PLA ground-effect vehicle" is the most recent news.It is Border patrol, PLAGF patrol all land borders from from north to south, east to west. GEV is nothing sophisticated, it is just a cheap flying truck that transports a squad of soldier, and it is not armed. A helicopter would be much more expensive.
Do you have any images? All I can find when I search up "PLA ground-effect vehicle" is the most recent news.
在朝阳的照耀下, 浩瀚的兴凯湖波光粼粼。中俄边境这片最大的界湖之畔,四中队正在进行地效翼飞行器训练。雷达电子屏幕上显示,几条渔船正企图越界捕鱼。接到命令,我官兵迅速登机,地效翼飞行器破浪起飞,贴着水面巡航,靠近边界的渔船迅速离去。
四中队队长袁占刚告诉我们,这样的地效翼飞行器,目前全军仅此一架。驾驭这一新装备的张勇,同样是一位士官。14年前,张勇揣着大学通知书入伍。来到部队后,他换过多种岗位,在每一个岗位上,他都刻苦钻研,全大队有23种船艇,他能熟练驾驭21种,做到“陆地能开车、水中能行船、上天能驾机”。谈起张勇,官兵们都很敬佩。张勇却这样向我们袒露心迹:其实我经历的失败比成功多得多,我把每一次失败都当成激励自己的动力,加倍去努力,我总怕做得比别人差。
Above post by SanWenYu is tha latest I think. For older news just go to page One post #1 of this thread for the photos of S3901 and SX591, these GEV are or were deployed by PLAGF border patrol purposes.Do you have any images? All I can find when I search up "PLA ground-effect vehicle" is the most recent news.