Zubr-class LCAC

The Zubr class, Soviet designation Project 1232.2, (NATO reporting name "Pomornik") is a class of Soviet-designed air-cushioned landing craft (LCAC). The name "Zubr" is Russian for the European bison. This class of military hovercraft is, as of 2023 the world's largest hovercraft, with a standard full load displacement of 555 tons. The hovercraft was designed to sealift amphibious assault units (such as marines and tanks) from equipped/non-equipped vessels to non-equipped shores, as well as to transport and plant naval mines.

Mordoviya and Evgeniy Kocheshkov
Class overview
BuildersPO More in Feodosiya of Crimea, Khabarovsk shipyard, Almaz, Pribaltisk Yantar
Operators
In commission1986–present
Planned17
Building2
Completed15
Cancelled2
Active10
Scrapped5
General characteristics
TypeAir-cushioned landing craft
Displacement
  • 340 tons (light)
  • 415 tons (normal)
  • 555 tons (full load)
Length57 m (187 ft)
Beam25.6 m (84 ft)
Draught1.6 m (5.2 ft)
Propulsion
  • 3 x 10,000 horsepower (7,500 kW) propelling M35-1 gas turbine units or M70FRU2&2R
    2 x 10,000 hp supercharging M35-2 gas turbine units or M85RU/FR E80D7 M70FRU\2
    4 x NO10 superchargers
  • Propellers: 3 four-bladed variable-pitch propellers
Speed
  • 63 knots (117 km/h; 72 mph)
  • 55 knots (102 km/h; 63 mph) sustainable
Range300 nmi (560 km) at 55 knots
Complement31 (4 officers, 27 enlisted)
Sensors and
processing systems
Ekran-1 navigational radar, Lazur radar (Pozitiv radar on MDK-51), R-782 Buran communications system
Electronic warfare
& decoys
Electronic Countermeasures System: Decoys, MS-227 chaff launcher, MP-411 ESM radar system; intercept
Armament
  • 4 × Strela-3 man-portable air defence missile system launchers, plus 32 anti-personnel missiles; or 2 x Strela 2 quad launchers, manual aiming, infrared homing to 6 km (3.7 mi) at Mach 1.5, maximum altitude of 2,500 m (8,200 ft)
  • 2 × 30 mm AK-630 close in weapon systems with 6,000 rounds each, maximum range of 2 km (1.2 mi)
  • 2 × 140 mm Ogon launchers, 22 rockets each with 132 rockets in total; or 2 x 122 mm retractable rocket launchers
  • Mines (one set of removable equipment for laying from 20 to 80 mines, depending on their types)

Ten Zubr-class hovercraft remain in service. There are two vessels in the Russian Navy and four with the Hellenic Navy. In 2009 China placed an order for four vessels from Ukraine as part of a deal worth US$315 million. Two updated versions of the vessels were built by Crimea's Feodosia Shipbuilding Company, followed by two advanced models of the surface warship. In 2023, an additional two more were built and modernized, with both hulls being numbered as 3260 and 3261.

The purchase in 2000 of HS Cephalonia (L 180) for the Hellenic Navy marked the first time a Soviet-designed naval craft had been built for a NATO member.

In June 2017 Russia announced the restarting of production of Zubr-class craft. Representatives from the Russian shipbuilding industry soon after responded by stating production could not possibly resume in 2018 and would only be possible by 2019–2021, refuting the government position. Representatives cited the lack of availability of and inability to mass-produce components, notably gas-turbine engines and reduction gears as the main obstacles.

NPO Saturn (ODK GT) and Turboros developed marine gas turbine engines M70FRU (D090), FR RU, M70FRU2 (DP/DM71) along M90FR, M75RU, E70RD8 and Elektrosila, AO Zvezda, Metallist, Samara and others developed redactors and gears.

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