Lun-class ekranoplan

Lun-class ekranoplan
Country	Soviet Union
Role	Attack/Transport ground effect vehicle
In service	1987–late 1990s
Built	2

The Lun-class ekranoplan (also called Project 903) is a ground effect vehicle (GEV) designed by Rostislav Alexeyev in 1975 and used by the Soviet and Russian navies from 1987 until sometime in the late 1990s. It flew using lift generated by the ground effect acting on its large wings when within about four metres (13 ft) above the surface of the water. Although they might look similar to traditional aircraft, ekranoplans like the Lun are not classified as aircraft, seaplanes, hovercraft, or hydrofoils. Rather, crafts like the Lun-class ekranoplan are classified as maritime ships by the International Maritime Organization due to their use of the ground effect, in which the craft glides just above the surface of the water.

Source: Lun-class ekranoplan on Wikipedia

‘Lun’ Ekranoplan Walk Around
Photographer	Igor Kolokolov
Localisation	Unknow
Photos	158

Lun-class ekranoplan 1

Lun-class ekranoplan 2

Lun-class ekranoplan 3

Lun-class ekranoplan 4

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Lun-class ekranoplan 7

Lun-class ekranoplan 8

Lun-class ekranoplan 9

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Ekranoplan Lun Walk Around
Photographer	Unknow
Localisation
Photos	88

Ekranoplan Lun

General Characteristics

The Lun-class Ekranoplan was a massive, high-speed military vehicle developed in the Soviet Union. Classified officially as a ship, it operated by using the ground effect, flying mere meters above the water surface at high speed to avoid naval mines and circumvent obstacles.

Property	Value (MD-160 Variant)
Role	Missile Launcher / Fast Attack GEV
Designer	Rostislav Evgenievich Alexeyev (Central Hydrofoil Design Bureau)
First Flight	1985 (Approximate)
Crew	10 (Officers and Crew)
Configuration	Low-wing monoplane, Ground Effect Vehicle (GEV)
Maximum Displacement	Approx. 380 tonnes
Number Built	1 (Only one missile-equipped Lun was completed)

Powerplant and Design

Powerplant: Eight Kuznetsov NK-87 turbofan engines.
Engine Placement: Mounted in pairs on eight individual nacelles located on the front of the forward main wing/canard structure.
Thrust: Approx. 127.4 kN (28,600 lbf) per engine.
Ground Effect Principle: The engines were placed high to allow the jet exhaust to create a cushion of high-pressure air beneath the wings, lifting the massive craft (known as the coanda effect).
Hull: Designed with a deep V-shape hull, allowing it to land and take off on water, and withstand relatively high waves (up to 2.5 meters).

Armament and Performance

Armament: Six P-270 Moskit (SS-N-22 Sunburn) anti-ship missile launchers (three located on either side of the hull, just behind the cockpit).
Maximum Speed: Up to 550 km/h (340 mph / 300 knots).
Operational Altitude: Typically 1.5 to 5 meters above the water surface.
Operational Range: Approximately 2,000 km (1,200 miles).
Status: The sole missile-armed Lun was decommissioned in the late 1990s and currently resides as a museum piece in Derbent, Dagestan.