My understanding is that ekranoplans aren't such a good idea except maybe for high speed short haul.
If slow is ok, use a boat. If going further add more wing, fly higher and faster for less fuel.
As other comments suggest, there is one particular high speed short haul route that could be the motivation.
chiph · 3h ago
How well do they perform in open ocean, where you would encounter larger waves than somewhere like the land-locked Caspian Sea?
ianburrell · 2h ago
They don't do well in open ocean which is why only saw them in Caspian Sea. My understanding is that they need to fly a certain distance above the waves to keep from hitting them. When the waves are big, this pushes them close to ground effect limit.
My guess is that they would be okay for confined seas like Mediterranean. Or uses where they didn't need to keep to schedule.
shmeeed · 4h ago
1st reaction: Woohoo, a new Ekranoplan :D
2nd reaction: Wait, what are they building it for? :(
metalman · 3h ago
it is painted navy grey, not coast guard white....
the size is not truely gargantuan so it is probably just a test article, if the bow opens,then it is general purpose cargo, but ic could also be for very long range marine opps, survalence, keeping things edgy stuff
If slow is ok, use a boat. If going further add more wing, fly higher and faster for less fuel.
As other comments suggest, there is one particular high speed short haul route that could be the motivation.
My guess is that they would be okay for confined seas like Mediterranean. Or uses where they didn't need to keep to schedule.
2nd reaction: Wait, what are they building it for? :(