zubr completed?

China bought Zubrs? thats some major news. I thought it was never going to happen...

How much did china pay, and how many zubrs is it allowed to liscence produce. Are there any upgrades doen to these zubrs?

originally, this was just a speculation by Kanwa, I think. I'm still not sure if this story is true or not.

It would be quite interesting to see how an air-cushion craft would manage in a real war zone, I suppose the proppellers could be quite vulnerable. I feel it might be one of those projects which real value you don't know until it actually is battletested. The same goes for the US ACV's.

use RPG or LAW or LONG RANGE ROCKET
the proppeller will be screwed all of them

I caught this on the news wire

Almaz plant to sign contract with China to build six Zubr class ships

ST. PETERSBURG. Sept 1 (Interfax) - St. Petersburg-based
shipbuilder Almaz will sign a contract with China on the construction of
six Zubr class assault hovercrafts, Leonid Grabovets, the director
general of the enterprise, told journalists on Friday.
"We are going to finish talks with China this year and sign a
contract with that country in 2007," he said.
The 540-tonne Zubr hovercraft can reach speeds of over 60 knots. It
is 57 meters long and 22.5 meters wide. The ship can carry 500 marines
and three tanks weighing 50 tonnes each. The hovercraft is armed with
two MS-227 missile launchers, with 66 rounds, and two AK-630M gun mounts
to protect the vessel from air attack.
The Almaz plant specializes in building military ships. It builds
ships and motorboats for the Russian navy and has participated in
international military cooperation for many years. The plant
successfully executed a contract to build three Zubr hovercrafts for the
Greek navy,

Originally Posted by bangladesh

use RPG or LAW or LONG RANGE ROCKET
the proppeller will be screwed all of them

Is it not the fact, that they are so fast, its will be hard to hit them?

One rocket hit or not, I don't think these ships were designed to take a substantial beating as such. However, 60 knots is something PLAN probably would like to add, rather than having just 12 knot LCMs or huge vulnerable LSTs. With sufficient air cover and good countermeasures (and if those AK630s can take down an incoming missile or two), and coupled with the Zubr's speed, it should be able to quickly deliver SOF troops quite well.

Same thing with US LCACs. They too aren't tested in combat yet. In fact, LCAC's advantages are speed and can operate from amphib ships which the Zubr cannot, but I regard LCAC even more vulnerable considering it has no CIWS!

Same thing with US LCACs. They too aren't tested in combat yet. In fact, LCAC's advantages are speed and can operate from amphib ships which the Zubr cannot, but I regard LCAC even more vulnerable considering it has no CIWS!

True enough. But LCAC's have air cover from Super Cobra's and Harriers. And in the next few years F-35 JSF. Also USMC/USN doctroine calls for amphibous landings to take place behind enemy lines to establish a base. And not to directly confront the enemey with a "D-Day" type amphibous landing.

Same thing with US LCACs. They too aren't tested in combat yet. In fact, LCAC's advantages are speed and can operate from amphib ships which the Zubr cannot, but I regard LCAC even more vulnerable considering it has no CIWS!

What'd you mean? Aren't Zubrs suppose to be about to launch from amphib ships?

This thing is probably too big to be stealthy for SOFs, but its fast speed and high payload makes deliveries quick and shocking.

The Marines might need it. I don't think all of their vehicles are amphibious.

Can that new LHD they've been looking at be able to hold Zubrs?

I mean it can hold four air cushion craft, but are Zubrs too big for it?

Can that new LHD they've been looking at be able to hold Zubrs?

I mean it can hold four air cushion craft, but are Zubrs too big for it?
10 Hours Ago 11:07 PM

I think you mean LPD. Personally I think the Zubrs are too large for storage in a well deck. Those things are huge. 184 feet long. Probally 18-20 feet high. You might get one in the well deck...Rusia built only 10 Zubr's.. And has built two since 1994. That in 2000 for the Hellenic Navy(Greece)

An USN LCAC is much smaller only 81 feet in lenght. USN amphib ships carry a squadron of four. The USN has 91 active LCAC's.

I think you mean LPD.

I mean LHD.

The PLA Navy is considering to build new 15,000 to 20,000t LHD class amphibious ships that uses new hovercraft tank and troop conveyers and large transport helicopters, allowing assaults from greater distance and against more difficult shore terrain. Shown in the photo is a model of the possible LHD design by China National Shipbuilding Co. The ship features large stern helicopter flight deck, and dock to accommodate four large air cushion landing crafts.

Source: Chinese Defence Today

I'm just wondering if Zubr is too large though. It would seem odd for China to think about such a ship if there wasn't a reliable LCAC. Also, if you look at the picture, it does sort of look like a Zubr in the model.

Vlad Plasmius, That is exactly what I'm talking about. That ship is an LPD by most countries standards. Compare it to the USN San Antiono class LPD

http://navysite.de/ships/lpd-images/lpd17_6.jpg

http://thesaltysailor.com/ships/cove...7-cut-away.jpg

In my view the PLAN LHD is an LPD. This is a USN LHD.

http://www.navy.mil/management/photo...-8547M-162.jpg

But the PLAN can call it what ever it wants. It is their ship.

I agree that the Zubr is too large for the type ship the PLAN will some day put to sea. That Zubr is a monster 184ft(56 meters) long? Probally only one could fit into the well deck of the PLAN LHD/LPD.

I agree that the Zubr is too large for the type ship the PLAN will some day put to sea. That Zubr is a monster 184ft(56 meters) long? Probally only one could fit into the well deck of the PLAN LHD/LPD.

Hmmm, well having looked at it, either 15,000 to 20,000 tons is dead weight and its actualy tonnage is substantially larger or a smaller LCAC is intended for China's amphibious ship.

Of course, China doesn't have any such project currently except the Zubr. My only thought other than it being a very large LHD, or perhaps simply a substantially different design, is that China's purchasing the Zubrs and producing them so they can use that knowledge to create a smaller version domestically to use in the PLAN's amphibious forces. Other than that I can't see any practical reason for China acquiring the Zubr in regard to it having an apmhibious assault ship.