PLAN Zubr Large Air Cushion Landing Craft

asif iqbal

asif iqbal

Lieutenant General
Moreover question is why is the reason China built a MLP?

It says a lot about how they plan to develop their amphibious capability

The ship will be used to transport the LCAC units and when within range they could launch the LCAC

This now has increased in the operating envelope for Zubr Class which until now we thought could be used for near by islands

But I think the bigger picture now is that PLAN is going to build it's amphibious assault capability to a higher level and eventually form a marine expeditionary unit like a ARG

With 4 x LPD and a ever increasing sea lift capability PLAN has a very good future ahead
 
Jeff Head

Jeff Head

General
Registered Member
Well the Zubr has enough range to be stationed in the South China Sea and operate there without such transport.

With respect to their use with the Zubrs, I expect the MLP will be used to transport the Zubr for two reasons:

1) For repair and maintenance.
2) Over much longer distances.

So, for example, if the day comes that the PLAN does establish an ARG, perhaps we will see one of their yet to be built LHDs with a couple of LPDs and a couple of MLPs transporting Zubrs with the ARG so that they would be available for the ARG.

Who knows?

I still wonder just how many Zubrs te PLAN intends. We know they will have two built in the Ukraine and two built in China. but will the PLAN build more in China? For me, that is the question right now.
 
D

delft

Brigadier
If need be more could be built in Feodosia which now lays in Russia ( Crimea ) or by Almaz in St Petersburg beside the production in China. The engines are Russian: Kuznetsov NK-12, similar to those of Tu-95. So a decision to build many could soon be realized.
But first I expect years of getting experience and then more probably the production of an optimized design.
 
T

Tyloe

Junior Member
Apparently Rosoboronexport from Russia wants to fufill a future deal to export Zubr craft to China. So there's at least a willing supplier to take over Ukraine once it joins the EU and follow their policies. But since China already has the technical data to make it themselves would such a deal be hampered?

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D

delft

Brigadier
Tyloe said:
Apparently Rosoboronexport from Russia wants to fufill a future deal to export Zubr craft to China. So there's at least a willing supplier to take over Ukraine once it joins the EU and follow their policies. But since China already has the technical data to make it themselves would such a deal be hampered?

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The "Ukrainian" producer is in Crimea and so has become a Russian producer.
 
T

Tyloe

Junior Member
Oh yeah! But in the previous deal with Ukraine, it was included with technology transfer via the two other units built in China. If the PLAN need more Zubrs couldn't they get them built by domestic CSSC instead buying them from Russia?
 
D

delft

Brigadier
Tyloe said:
Oh yeah! But in the previous deal with Ukraine, it was included with technology transfer via the two other units built in China. If the PLAN need more Zubrs couldn't they get them built by domestic CSSC instead buying them from Russia?
Click to expand...
Probably. But if they decided they wanted more than they could make themselves there are two plants able to make them in Russia.
 
Jeff Head

Jeff Head

General
Registered Member
Agreed on China building more in China. They went to the trouble of tooling up to do this and then producing two.

I believe if China wants...say four more...they would most certainly be built in China. They are capable of doing this now and I can not see them going back to depending on such production from Russia.

I just was wondering whether they would build more or not...and if so...how many?
 
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