Chinese Wing-in-Ground Effect Vehicles - Ekranoplans in PLA service
- Thread starter Deino
- Start date
A CG model of the recently-spotted ekranoplan/GEV, based on the available photographs so far. Made by Big Bun CG on Weibo.
lcloo
Major
It looks like a larger version of the twin engined #S3901 XTW-5 WIG posted by Deino on post #1. I believe this new 4 engined design should be able to fly much higher than #S3901 XTW-5 WIG .A bigger version.
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by78
General
It still appears to have a size similar to the Y-9 if not bigger. The use of turboprops would make sense if the intended max speed is below 600 km/h, going by the first principles. I honestly see potential in these vehicles for CSAR, CASEVAC, MEDEVAC and transport. After all they are faster than helos and are much cheaper for the same payload. Amphibious use is less likely but still plausible. MPA, gunship and missile boat type uses would be obsolete in 2025.
New pictures of the new GEV, interestingly it has apparently 4 underwing hardpoints (of which two of them on the left side has been fitted with pylons) for presumably antiship munitions or torpedos. Also, it appears to be much smaller in size than previous expected.
