This craft is designed to ferry three medium tanks or ten APCs or other types of combat materiel. The craft comprises four compartments to accommodate landing troops. If the craft is not assigned to ferry armoured vehicles, the compartment intended for the purpose could be fitted with 360 seats to accommodate landing troops. The craft boasts a considerable reserve of power: in adverse weather conditions the loss of speed is minimal. The two main engines ensure a prolonged maximum speed of 60 knots under full displacement on calm water. Owing to the height of the craft's hull, it can negotiate a 'vertical wall' up to 1.6 meters high and travel normally during Sea State 2.

The fuel tanks capacity permit the craft to cover about 1,000 miles & sea refuelling is possible. The craft is easy to pilot and is manoeuvrable enough to pass straight places and go out on the beach. The ship is fitted with an automatic navigation system which ensures precise stabilization of the course or course angle.

The square-shape pontoon fabricated from aluminum-manganese alloy pressed boards, 3 or 4 mm thick, constitutes the main carrying part of the hull, which ensures the ruggedness and floodability of the craft. The pontoon's superstructure with two longitudinal bulkheads is divided into three functional parts.

The middle part comprises a compartment for armoured vehicles with taxi tracks and tank ramps. The design of taxi tracks protects the craft's side skin from damage. The main and auxiliary power plants, troops compartments, crew quarters and protection systems from weapons of mass destruction are arranged in the side compartments. Comfortable conditions are provided at combat stations and in troop and crew compartments by ventilation and air-conditioning systems, thermo-sound insulation coatings and structures made from vibro-damping materials. Provision is also made for normal rest and feeding of the crew.

Since the craft is built mainly from aluminum-manganese alloy materials and crammed with electrical devices and armament, special attention is paid to fire-protection and fire-fighting systems. The fire-fighting means comprise sophisticated remotely controlled fire alarm and fire-detection systems, a main fire system, extinguishing and foam-extinguishing systems, artillery mounts sprinkling devices, volume chemical fire-extinguishing system and portable fire-extinguishing appliances. These fire-fighting means and systems ensure rapid and reliable detection, the location and liquidation of fire sources.

The high-temperature gas-turbine engines, type M-70, are specially developed to drive the air-cushion blowers and air-propellers of the air-cushion ships. The gas-turbine engines are equal to diesel engines in terms of fuel rate consumption at a specific mass of 0.25 kg/h.p. Four HO-10 blowers or superchargers are mounted to generate the air-cushion. These air-charging installations are fitted with an axial operating wheel of 2.5 meters in diameter, guide and alignment apparatus, supporting plates with self-sustaining lubrication system and elastic couplings for a reduction gear of the transmission. The air-cushion blowers are very effective even at excess loading of the craft.

The air draught for movement is provided by the four-blade reversible adjustable pitch propellers 5.5 meters in diameter. The entering blade edges are protected against erosion wear. The propellers are mounted inside ring shrouds 6 meters in diameter and fabricated from polymer materials. The propeller-rudder system is unparalleled in terms of power.

There are two electric power plants on the craft. Each electric power plant comprises two gas-turbine generators GTG-110 rating 100 kW each and the main switchboards. The main electric current is 220 V 400 Hz. Static current converters, rectifiers and charge batteries supply the craft's units with alternative current and start its engines. When stationary, the craft can be connected to the mains of up to 200 kW.

The craft can be controlled in the movement by remote control, automatic and automated devices. These modes of control are selected from the main central command post, central control post and remote control panels. One operator can perform the following operations from the craft control post rigged with aircraft control stick, handles and buttons: he can control aerodynamic rudders, jet rudders, pitches of propeller blades, take off the air-cushion craft and land it; he can also actuate emergency brakes, automatic stabilizer of the course or steering angle; an operator also controls aircraft movement (roll, different, course, speed, drift). From the central control post, an operator can control main and auxiliary electric power plants, electric system, other craft systems and devices and monitor their parameters, start and cut off them.

The craft is fitted with telephone and telegraph communications in UHF, and HF bands, as well as printing devices to register received documents, navigation, meteorological and other warnings. A high-precision radar, gyrocompass, magnetic compass, Doppler drift indicator, satellite navigation system (GPS), Decca system, radio direction finder, control gyro system, night and day drift indicator and running lights are available to rapidly resolve in routine and combat situations navigation tasks at all speeds.

This amphibious craft is protected from air attacks by the AD IGLA-1M system used to engage targets flying at altitudes from 10 to 3,500 meters at a diagonal distance of 500-5,000 meters at a speed of 360 m/s. The two multiple rocket launchers are mounted on the craft to destroy coastal and sea targets. The standard ammunition ensures effective firing at a range of 200-10,000 meters. These multiple rocket launchers are especially developed for this type of craft. Two 30mm AK-630M automatic six-barrels artillery mounts with a rate of fire of up to 4,000-5,000 rounds per minute and a range of 5,200 meters are mounted on the craft to ensure air defence and engagement of sea and coast targets. The optical-electronic and radar systems ensure fire control of the craft.

The craft can also lay 20-80 sea mines depending on the class of the craft. The light armour plates of the craft are intended to protect the complement of the vessel and ammunition cells from bullets and fragmentations. The ZUBR craft cannot be blown up by contact mines. Means of protection from non-contact mines are mounted on the craft.

The leading craft ZUBR was built in 1985 and underwent two-year-long all-sided trials, including those in the field. The trial results were considered for the mass-produced design of the craft. The Design Bureau ALMAZ has accumulated extensive experience and employed skilled developers to design amphibious craft on the air-cushion used for various purposes and displacements.

Copyright © Military Parade JSC, 1997. (Russian web page)

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