During the Cold War, the Soviet Union developing a innovative aircrafts for example the Ekranoplan, also known as the Caspian Sea Monster. This aircraft was designed to fly at low altitudes over water, using ground effect to achieve lift and fly at high speeds.

The Ekranoplan was first developed in the 1960s by Rostislav Evgenievich Alexeev, a Soviet naval engineer. It was designed as a military vehicle that could transport troops and equipment over water and reach high speeds while remaining difficult to detect by radar. The Ekranoplan flew using the ground effect, a phenomenon where an aircraft in close proximity to the surface of the water or ground experiences reduced drag and increased lift.



Some models measuring up to 92 meters in length and weighing over 500 tons. It could travel at speeds of up to 550 kilometers per hour and had a range of up to 1,500 kilometers. Despite its capabilities, the Ekranoplan was not widely adopted. Only a few models were built, and they were primarily used for military purposes.

One of the challenges of the Ekranoplan was its high fuel consumption, which made it expensive to operate. It also had limited maneuverability, which made it less effective in combat situations. Additionally, the aircraft’s reliance on ground effect made it difficult to operate in rough seas or on uneven terrain.



Then, Ekranoplan program was canceled primarily due to the collapse of the Soviet Union and the end of the Cold War. The existing models were retired or scrapped because they were no longer seen as necessary for military purposes and were expensive to maintain.


Next to the ancient city of Derbent, in Russia’s republic of Dagestan, a 380-ton “Lun-class Ekranoplan”, making a tourist attraction. ​