US and China Resurrecting Cold War-Era Ekranoplan 'Sea Monster' Ship

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The high-speed sea vehicle, known as ekranoplan, a legacy from the Cold War era, has once again attracted the attention of two major world powers, the United States (US) and China.

After decades of neglect since the collapse of the Soviet Union, it is now known that the United States and China are developing new versions of the high-speed sea vehicle.

In the 1960s, CIA analysts first detected a mysterious vehicle on the coast of the Caspian Sea belonging to the Soviet Union. The vehicle was dubbed the 'Caspian Sea Monster' and later known as an ekranoplan-an experimental sea vessel that could skim low over the water's surface at speeds equivalent to a jet aircraft.

Recently, several photos from China have revealed the presence of a similar vehicle in the Bohai Sea. The vehicle was given the nickname 'Bohai Sea Monster'.

Justin Bronk, a military aviation expert from the Royal United Services Institute, believes that this development shows China's aggressive approach in pursuing military superiority.

'China is known for its willingness to fund and test various technical solutions and technologies to address military issues,' said Bronk, quoted from a Radio Liberty report on July 10, 2025.

'They may assume that at least some of these projects will prove to be unexpectedly useful and successful,' he added.

The ekranoplan offers advantages over both aircraft and sea vessels. Due to its low altitude, the vehicle is nearly undetectable by radar until within visual range. Its speed is also approximately ten times higher than that of a regular ship. Furthermore, it can traverse sea mines and carry heavier payloads than aircraft, thanks to the ground effect it utilizes.

The United States, through the military technology development agency DARPA, also embarked on a similar project named 'Liberty Lifter'. A funding of US$22 million was allocated to this project, but in June 2025, the program was terminated prematurely.

Meanwhile, leaked images from China-whether intentional or not-indicate that Beijing has entered the prototyping stage for a similar vehicle.

Although there is no conclusive evidence that the vessel sighted in the Bohai Sea is a military project, its typical gray warship color and large cargo door have raised speculation that the vehicle could be used for the logistic interests of the Chinese Navy.

'One of the specific roles that the ekranoplan might fill in the Chinese Navy is the ability to transport payloads that are too heavy for large transport aircraft, yet much faster than traditional ships,' said Bronk.

'In theory, this could be useful for China's ability to rapidly reinforce contested, smaller islands with significant numbers of anti-ship missiles and air defenses,' he added.

However, the ekranoplan technology is not without its challenges. It requires significant power to lift off from the water's surface, and its maneuverability is slow. The risk of bird strikes is also high due to its low flying altitude, unlike aircraft that soar at higher altitudes.

Furthermore, China is currently massively expanding its maritime power, with a goal to build six aircraft carriers by the 2030s. Satellite imagery of unusually designed landing ships has also raised concerns that Beijing is preparing for a potential invasion of Taiwan.

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