A massive ground-effect vehicle (GEV), known as an ekranoplan in Russian military terminology, is a four-engine craft designed to glide just above the water’s surface, optimized for rapid troop transport.

This innovative hybrid combines features of airplanes, ships, and hovercraft, enabling unique capabilities for naval operations. The Soviet Union pioneered this technology, deploying an ekranoplan as a warship in the Caspian Sea from 1987 until the late 1990s.

Drawing on designs from a classified Soviet Cold War-era megaproject, China has developed its own advanced GEV, nicknamed the “Bohai Sea Monster.”

Recently captured on camera for the first time, this aircraft-boat hybrid is engineered to fly below radar detection and outmaneuver traditional battleships. Powered by four jet engines mounted on its wings with flattened nozzles, the craft’s ultra-low-altitude flight capabilities could transform amphibious warfare and facilitate swift resupply missions to islands.

In addition to Russia, countries such as the United States, Germany, Canada, Japan, Taiwan, and China have developed smaller GEV models, with China notably intensifying its efforts to enhance its naval capabilities.