This aircraft, it is an aircraft takes off from the sea and carries 6 missile launch tubes. In fact it flies low, just like a hovercraft but higher and faster. A large herd of them working below the radar could have been a sudden and very nasty surprise to defence establishments. Fortunately it never came to pass. So it is just one of those developments that might have changed the world. This one mounted missiles. Other versions could carry men or tanks.
From http://igor113.livejournal.com/51213.html Sadly the explanations are all in Russian. It is clear that Igor got a digital camera for Christmas. The Wiki explains at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ground_effect_vehicle
Photos from
the outside
Photos from the
inside
Photos of the Orlan's
specially built support dock
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ground_effect_vehicle
This somewhat similar brute is from the same stable. The CIA called it the Caspian Sea Monster.
Caspian Sea Monster
A cheerful overview of the whole thing.
Russian Secret Project Exposed.
From ultra secret to YouTube.
Red Banner Northern Fleet - Excellent photo essay on the Caspian Sea Monster
Leads to Russian sources.
Russia Thinks Big - Russia Thinks Enormous - http://englishrussia.com/index.php/2009/01/25/russian-flying-fortresses/
Some photos look genuine. Others might or might not be real.
Russia Thinks Strange - http://englishrussia.com/index.php/2010/09/06/a-weird-soviet-plane-vva-14/
Russia Thinks Stealth - http://englishrussia.com/index.php/2009/07/09/russian-stealth-jet/
