Lun

Autor: Martin Smíšek 🕔︎︎ 👁︎ 43.641


Aeronautics.ru

After the end of World War II, two design bureaus in the Soviet Union began to make practical use of the ground effect. The first was affiliated with OKB Beriev and was headed by Italian-born designer R. L. Bartini. Under his direction, a machine capable of perpendicular takeoff and landing, the VVA-14 (the number 14 in the name means that the aircraft was equipped with fourteen engines) was built there in the first half of the 1970s. Due to continuing difficulties with the twelve special lift engines of the RD 36-35PR, consideration began to be given to using the ground effect characteristics of the aircraft for takeoff. The VVA-14 was appropriately modified according to the new plans, but its development was ultimately not completed and the aircraft remained in the prototype stage only.

Reklama

The second design bureau was CKB SPK under the leadership of chief designer Rostislav Yevgenyevich Alexeyev. The first experimental ekranoplan designed in his office was created in 1957. Three years later, the SM-1 type (SM = Samochodnaya Model), capable of speeds of up to 200 km/h, length of 20 m and weight of 28,300 kg, saw the light of day. By 1972, five more smaller experimental machines were built, designated SM-2 to SM-6. In the first half of the 1960s, Alexeyev focused on the construction of large ekranoplanes, on which the advantages of their design were to be most marked. The construction of the large KM ekranoplan, whose chief designer was V. Kirillovich, was the chief designer of the KMON, which was completed in 1966. Its tests were first conducted on the Volga River, then moved to the Caspian Sea, where the machine became an object of interest for US spy satellites. US analysts eventually named the KM type the "Caspian Monster." The KM ekranoplan was 92.4 metres long, weighed 540 tonnes and reached a speed of 500 km/h during the tests.

In 1970, CKB SPK Alexeyev received a contract to develop a heavy rocket-carrying ekranoplan. The new machine was to be capable of reaching a speed of 500 km/h and its primary armament was to consist of anti-ship cruise missiles. The chief designer was appointed V. V. Sokolov, under whose direction a large number of studies of the new machine were made. The concept of the future ekranoplan, designated Lun, was taken from the KM type. The development of the ekranoplan was prolonged for ten years, because the designers had to solve a number of problems they had not encountered before. The technical documentation of the prototype was produced in 1980 without the blessing of the responsible institutions. From 1983 to mid-1986, the first prototype was being built at the Volga production plant. The Lun prototype was first launched on the surface of the Volga River on 16 July 1986, followed by its transfer to the Caspian Sea, where it was retrofitted with additional systems. Between May 1987 and July 1989 its factory trials took place. Lun underwent state trials in December 1989.

The Lun's armament consists of six anti-ship cruise missiles 3M80 Moskit (in NATO code SS-N-22 Sunburn), whose launchers are located on the back of the hull. Defence against aerial targets is provided by a PI-23 gun turret with a twin-barrelled GS-23 gun. A radar specially designed for this type is located on the hull's nose. The ekranoplane is powered by eight NK-87 jet engines located behind the cabin. These are rotated during takeoff to direct the exhaust stream under the wing. The airframe is equipped with four pairs of flaps. An arrow-shaped horizontal tailplane is located at the top of the wing surface, with a sensor housing below the root of the tailplane.

Original plans from the 1980s called for the construction of forty Lun and Orljonok ekranoplanes. However, these plans were radically revised with the arrival of a new Navy Commander and Secretary of Defense. With the collapse of the Soviet Union, the Lun project was eventually halted. In 1990 and 1992, the single completed Lun underwent test deployments in the Caspian Sea with the 11th Air Group under the Black Sea Fleet, where it complemented the Orljonok ekranoplanes. The air group was reorganized into an air base (screenplane maintenance) in 1998 to take care of the preserved Lun screenplane; the Orljonok machines have since been retired. Before the Lun project was discontinued, a second example of the ekranoplane was three-quarters complete by 1992. In 1992, the entire project was reconsidered and renamed Saviour. This is a civilian version of Lun, which is intended to perform rescue work, assist in natural disasters and perform patrol and transport flights. The fuselage of the Saviour can hold up to 500 passengers or be equipped with a fully equipped operating room, for example. A second example of the Luns has therefore been "demilitarized" and has begun to be fitted with the necessary systems of the Saviour version; however, due to lack of funding, it has not yet been completed.

Technical and tactical data

Length 73,8 m
Wingspan 44 m
Height 19.2 m
Weight 380 t
Maximum speed 550 km/h
Range 3 000 km

Join us

We believe that there are people with different interests and experiences who could contribute their knowledge and ideas. If you love military history and have experience in historical research, writing articles, editing text, moderating, creating images, graphics or videos, or simply have a desire to contribute to our unique system, you can join us and help us create content that will be interesting and beneficial to other readers.

Find out more