The Chinese "Sea Monster": an ekranoplane with propellers instead of jet engines

What is an ekranoplane and how does it fly over water?

Recent images have revealed details of a strange flying vessel that China is testing called the Bohai Sea Monster. This is an ekranoplane — a machine that is not quite an airplane and not quite a ship. It flies at a height of several meters above the water, using the so-called "screen effect": an air cushion between the wing and the surface of the water provides additional lift. Thanks to this, it can carry a large load and fly fast, using almost no fuel.

Such devices have long been of interest to the military — they are fast, elusive to radar and can deliver equipment directly to the shore.

Propellers, not jet engines — why so?

The main thing that catches your eye is that instead of jet engines, there are ordinary propellers. Against the background of hypersonic missiles and fighter jets, it looks like a step back. But in fact, it's a reasonable compromise.

Screw engines are cheaper, easier to maintain, and more economical. Supersonic sound is not necessary for a car that flies low and does not aim at the stratosphere. The main thing is reliability and the ability to work from coastal bases. In addition, propellers make less noise at low altitudes, which is useful for stealth.

Soviet ideas in Chinese execution

China was clearly inspired by the Soviet "Killer Whales" and "Harriers" — giant ekranoplanes that the USSR developed in the 60-80s. Only now have technologies stepped forward: modern materials, electronics, navigation. China can do what Moscow failed to do then — create a really combat-ready and controllable device.

If the ekranoplanes did not go into production in the Soviet Union, China can bring the matter to an end.

Why would China need such a "monster" — a military or amphibious ship-plane

There are two scenarios. The first one is amphibious. Imagine: a car starts from a base on the coast of Bohai Bay, which in a couple of hours will deliver a company of soldiers or an armored personnel carrier directly to the island without entering the port. The second is shock: armed with cruise missiles, it can attack ships in the A2AD zone while remaining under radar.

In any case, this is not just a technology demonstration. This is an attempt to gain an advantage in the Middle Sea, where every kilometer and second is crucial.

Sources

1. SecurityLab — China’s new ekranoplan: features, military use and coastal strategy
2. Rossiyskaya Gazeta — “Bohai Monster”: design details and amphibious potential
3. Radio Azattyk — Comparison with Soviet “Caspian Monster” and expert views on military missions
4. Realnoe Vremya — High-res photos, structural analysis vs. Soviet craft
5. Armiya.az — “Sea Monster of Bohai”: ambitious jet-powered ekranoplan for naval use
6. The War Zone via Naked Science — First full image of China’s ground-effect vehicle
7. InoSMI / SCMP — China’s progress in Soviet-derived ekranoplan technology

The US Navy launched a "floating monster" — the new amphibious assault ship can carry 7 times more than the C-17

LCU 1710 is not just a boat, but a giant from shore to shore

LCU 1710, a new amphibious assault ship capable of carrying more than 1.2 million pounds (about 544 tons), was launched at the shipyard in Mobile, Alabama. For comparison: This is seven times more than the C-17 Globemaster aircraft of the US Air Force can lift into the air. Such a ship is not just a means of delivery, but a bridge between the fleet and land, capable of transferring tanks, armored vehicles, building modules and even floating cranes directly to an unequipped shore.

The LCU 1710 is a machine for those tasks where aircraft are powerless and ports are inaccessible.

Austal USA is betting on steel

Austal USA, known primarily for aluminum ships, is now seriously entering the steel shipbuilding market. LCU 1710 is the first ship of this class built by the steel company. This is an important step: steel is cheaper, stronger, and better suited for large, long-lived vessels, especially in heavy-duty environments.

The project is funded under a $91.5 million contract with the U.S. Navy, concluded in 2023. A total of 12 such ships are planned to be built, and LCU 1710 became the first of this series.

What is a ship carrying that is heavier than an airplane?

Imagine: several Abrams tanks, a column of armored personnel carriers, or heavy engineering equipment can be loaded onto the deck of this ship at once. It is capable of operating from LSD or LPD type ships, taking cargo on board in the open sea, and then delivering it directly to the beach — without the need for ports or berths.

Such mobility is critically important for amphibious operations, humanitarian missions, and the deployment of bases in remote areas.

Twelve of them, and the whole army is on the move

Three LCUs are already being built at the Austal shipyard at the same time. The work will continue over the next decade. Each new ship will increase the Navy's operational flexibility, allowing it to respond more quickly to crises, deploy equipment, and support expeditionary forces.

LCU 1710 is not just a fleet upgrade. This is a step towards a new level of maritime mobility.

Sources

1. WorkBoat — start of LCU 1710 construction
2. Army Recognition — launch of LCU 1710 and its role
3. Naval News — LCU 1700 program details and specifications
4. Naval Technology — overview of the Landing Craft Utility 1700-class project

China has accepted the fourth universal amphibious assault ship of project 075, Hubei (tail number 34), into the Navy

China has officially accepted the fourth universal amphibious assault ship of the Hubei project 075 - UDC with tail number 34 into its Naval Forces. This ship was launched on December 14, 2023 at the Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding shipyard in Shanghai, after which it was tested in 2024. In August 2025, the Hubei officially joined the PLA Navy, and has already participated in joint exercises with other ships of the Chinese navy.

Hubei was named after the Chinese province of Hubei. This amphibious helicopter carrier of project 075 is a large vessel with a displacement of about 35-40 thousand tons, a length of more than 230 meters and a width of 36 meters, comparable in size to its American counterparts. The ship is capable of transporting a large number of Marines, helicopters, and armored vehicles for amphibious operations.

Previously, three UDC systems of this project were accepted into the Chinese Navy — Hainan (in 2021), as well as Guangxi and Anhui (in 2022). Hubei represents a further expansion of the capabilities of the Chinese amphibious assault forces and strengthening the amphibious capabilities of the PLA.

Key data:

- Name: Hubei

- Project: 075

- Tail number: 34

- Displacement: 35-40 thousand tons

- Length: more than 230 m

- Width: 36 m

- Launched: December 14, 2023

- Commissioned into the Navy: August 2025

- Shipyard: Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding, Shanghai

For the first time, the US Marine Corps has integrated the JUMP 20 drone aboard an amphibious ship

 

UAS JUMP 20

The 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) has reached a historic milestone in modernizing its combat capabilities. For the first time in history, the unit has successfully integrated and flown the JUMP 20 unmanned Aerial System (UAS) from an amphibious warship, marking an important step in the development of the Distributed maritime Operations (DMO) concept.

This breakthrough was a key element in preparing the MEU for the role of an advanced rapid reaction force capable of operating autonomously in high-threat environments. The UAS JUMP 20 integration provides the squad with a powerful means of reconnaissance, surveillance and targeted escort, increasing its ability to interact with the enemy at a great distance from the main forces.

The JUMP 20 drone, developed by the American company Skyfront, has a unique hybrid power plant that combines the advantages of electric and gasoline engines. It is capable of staying in the air for up to 10 hours, reaching speeds of up to 130 km/ h and carrying various payloads — from optoelectronic systems to communications and electronic intelligence.

The inclusion of drones in expeditionary units is part of the broader strategy of the United States Marine Corps to adapt to the new challenges of countering equal opponents. As part of the Force Design 2030 concept, the Marine Corps is being retrofitted to more mobile, distributed, and technologically equipped formations capable of operating in archipelagic and coastal environments.

JUMP 20 flights from amphibious ships demonstrate the possibility of rapid deployment of UAVs in tactical depth, increasing the detection zone and reducing dependence on large aircraft carrier groups. This is especially important in potential theaters of war, such as the Indo-Pacific region, where the confrontation with China requires new approaches to the use of force.

With this event in mind, we can talk about the beginning of a new era in the operation of unmanned systems at the level of tactical units, where UAVs become not just an auxiliary tool, but a full-fledged element of combat control and fire support.