Hovercraft sales go ahead to Greece, but some doubts about delivery schedules

Published: 2/15/2000

Russia and Ukraine are to deliver four Zubr hovercraft to the Greek Navy, so exporting the world"s largest landing craft, developed by the Almaz Central Maritime Design Bureau, for the first time, under a $200m agreement signed in late January. Under the terms of the agreement between Rosvooruzheniye, its Ukrainian counterpart, Ukrspetsexport and the Greek government, four Zubrs will be delivered by 2002, according to officials. According to Alexander Lazarev, acting General Designer of the Almaz bureau, Ukrspetsexport will buy two unfinished craft from the Ukrainian Navy to have them modernised at the Morye Shipyard of Feodosia, Ukraine. Rosvooruzheniye, in turn, will buy one craft, built in 1991, from the Russian Baltic Fleet, modernise it and order another from Almaz's parent company, the Almaz Ship-Building Co. The modernisation of the craft will involve the improvement of the hovercraft"s propellers and the ability of the craft to operate in hotter environments. The Greeks are also reported to be interested in taking delivery of four additional craft in the future, in order to provide the high-speed reinforcement capability of islands in the Aegean. Each ship can carry up to 360 assault troops, three T-80 main battle tanks or up to 10 BTR-70 armoured personnel carriers at speeds of up to 60 knots, to a distance of up to 640 kilometres. Zubrs are 57.3 metres long, 25.6 metres wide and 21.9 metres high and have a full displacement of 550 tons. The craft is armed with two multiple-rocket launchers and two 30-mm AK-306 guns, capable of providing fire support. Doubts have been expressed, from some sources close to Almaz in press reports, that the facility will have trouble meeting the targeted delivery date for the new hovercraft. Given that, even in the best of times, it took two years to construct one, the Ukrainian undertaking to deliver the craft within 14 months is seen as being particularly ambitious.

Article ID: 1418