China Is Testing Combat Ekranoplanes: New Opportunities for Military Might

China is not asleep and is actively testing new combat ekranoplanes. These vehicles can be a real trump card in their military strategy, especially in regions with many islands. China already has experience in creating ekranoplanes for rescue operations and inter—island transportation, but now they are going further - they are developing combat versions.

Photos posted online show a new Chinese aircraft in Bohaiwan Bay. Experts are arguing what it is: a seaplane or an ekranoplane. Most people are inclined to believe that this is an ekranoplane. It is painted gray, which hints at a military purpose. The device has a T-shaped tail with two vertical stabilizers and four jet engines on the wings. The wings have roll-resistant floats and V-shaped keels.

China has been working on ekranoplanes for a long time. In 2023, they presented a prototype for rescue operations in the South China Sea. The new device is still unnamed, but it has already been nicknamed the "Boho Monster".

An ekranoplane is a cross between a ship and an airplane. It moves above the surface, supported by an air cushion created by interacting with air reflected from the surface of water or land. This principle was discovered in the 1920s, but only the Soviet scientist Rostislav Alekseev was able to implement it. His ekranoplanes could reach high speeds, which attracted the military. They could quickly and suddenly transfer troops, remaining invisible to radars.

For China, ekranoplanes are a solution to many military tasks. The main goal is to take back Taiwan. Taiwan is a group of islands, some of which are visible from mainland China. The width of the Taiwan Strait is from 130 to 220 km. In the event of an attack, China needs to quickly deploy troops to create bridgeheads and block military installations. Ekranoplanes can be an ideal tool for this.

China also has problems with islands in the South China Sea, such as the Spratly Archipelago. They have already created bulk islands with ports and air bases. Ekranoplanes can quickly transfer troops and equipment to such islands.