Russian Navy won’t order more Zubr class hovercrafts
The Russian Navy has decided not to order any more Zubr class LCAC, air cushioned landing crafts of Project 12322, the Izvestiya reports, citing a source in the Navy headquarters.
Instead, the Navy plans to order modern high speed crafts, which will be used at various landing ships, including the Mistral-class helicopter carriers.
The development of a huge Zubr class hovercraft (Pomornik) began in the Soviet Union in 1978 with the first LCAC put into service with the Soviet Union Navy in 1988. The LCAC is able to carry on board three battle tanks with a total mass of 150 tons or ten armored vehicles weighing up to 131 tons and 140 paratroopers, or eight IFVs weighing up to 115 tons, or accommodate 366 paratroopers.
Throughout the years the Soviet Union had constructed 14 such hovercrafts. Two of them remain in service with the Russian Navy. Five LCACs were scrapped; two ships were not completed and five vessels were purchased by Greece and now are used as tourist vessels.