A-050 Chaika-2
The heavy oceanic A-050 "Chaika-2" [Seagull-2] would be capable of speeds up to 450 kilometers per hour and cover a distance of up to five thousand kilometers. The take-off mass of the device will be 54 tons, and carrying capacity - nine tons, or 100 passengers, which, if necessary, can always be replaced with marines or special forces. Presumably, the P-195 (as on the Su-25 attack aircraft) and the TV-7-117 (as on the Il-114) will be used as the starting engines. According to the developers, "Chaika-2" will take off by 2022 - the conceptual design has been successfully completed and now we are working on a technical look.
The aicraft will be equipped with Russian avionics and modern navigation and aerobatic complex, it will be able to independently go to the unequipped coastline with a slope of five degrees, based on water and airfields. According to the stated characteristics, an ekranoplan is ideal for the Federal Frontier Service, the Emergencies Ministry, the FSO, and the patrol of the near coastal zone as part of the Russian Navy.
China is talks with Russia to acquire an unknown number of A-050 ekranoplan or ground effect vehicle for the People's Liberation Army. According to the state-run China News Service on 15 October 20515, China was discussing with Alekseyev Central Hydrofoil Design Bureau based in Nizhny Novgorod in Russia regarding the advanced version of the Lun-class ekranoplan purchase.
“The A-050 has a maximum takeoff weight of 54 tons and a loading capacity of nine tons. It can carry up to 100 passengers. With an effective range of 5,000 kilometers, the cruising speed of the A-050 ekranoplan is estimated at between 350 and 450 kilometers an hour. The ekranoplan may be fitted with a R-195 starting engines similar to those used by Su-25 bombers and TV7-117SM boosters on the Il-114,” WantChinaTimes news daily quoted a spokesperson for Alekseyev as saying.
Georgy Antsev, chair of the bureau, said in an earlier interview that the company is ready to design a prototype for the A-050. "The A-050 has very good aerodynamics and has been successfully tested in a wind tunnel and on hydraulic canals," Antsev said. Developed as a combination of aircraft and ship, the ekranoplan is capable to move freely along a variety of routes.
The statements of the management of the Morinformsystem-Agat concern about the carrying out of a whole complex of research works with the aim of "writing" ekranoplanes to the fleet management system of the future have been heard repeatedly. In particular, Chaika-2 was called very “promising for the Ministry of Defense” and proposed to arm the BrahMos cruise anti-ship missiles, thereby turning it into a high-speed strike combat complex. It is curious that China became interested in Chaika, who in 2015 even initiated negotiations with Russia on the acquisition of several vehicles for the People’s Liberation Army.
The newest ekranoplan "Seagull" with a displacement of 54 tons will be created in Russia in 2019-2020, it can be used in the interests of the Ministry of Defense, Ivan Antsev, executive director of the creator company, told in an interview with RIA Novosti 07 October 2017. The ekranoplan is a high-speed vehicle, a cross between a heavy aircraft and a light boat. It flies at a height of up to several meters from the surface of water or the earth, within the limits of the aerodynamic screen.
“At the moment, a promising multi-purpose vehicle-ekranoplan of the new generation“ Chaika ”A-050 with a displacement of 54 tons and a payload of 15 tons, which can solve various tasks - from cargo transportation to special tasks of search and rescue, reconnaissance and others, has been developed. which can be applied in all spheres of life and all departments - from the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Ministry of Emergency Situations and the Ministry of Defense to the Ministry of Transport, "said Antsev. He hoped that in a few years the project will already exist not in the form of a layout, but “in hardware”.
Ekranoplans produced by the Russian company RDC Aqualines will be launched between Helsinki and Tallinn, which will reduce the travel time between the two capitals to 30 minutes, said on Thursday the organizer of this project, managing director of the Estonian company Sea Wolf Express Ville Högman in an interview with the Finnish television channel MTV3 04 January 2018. “The company has already acquired one ship, a contract has been signed for the supply of 15 ships. In the near future, the crew’s training will be held in the Gulf of Finland. Passenger traffic will begin after that,” said Högman.
One ship takes on board 12 passengers. According to the company's calculations, in one day one ship will transport 144 people between two capitals, or about one thousand passengers per month. Specific launch dates in Sea Wolf Express is not specified. “We need to be sure of the project’s readiness, safety and comfort, so we don’t want to hurry,” Högman said.
The distance between Tallinn and Helsinki is 82 kilometers. The ferry service between the capitals of Finland and Estonia is operated by three ferry companies: Tallink, Viking Line and Eckero Line. Travel time is two hours or more. The average cost of a one-way ticket is about 20 euros.
According to the developers, as of 2017 it was planned that "Chaika-2" will take off by 2022 - the conceptual design had been successfully completed and now they were working on a technical look.
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