The Caspian Sea Monster Rises Again—in China
Sixty years after a Soviet nightmare, China has launched its own version. Does the drone age make it a monster—or a target?
The "Caspian Sea Monster" reappears—it is now known as a Chinese wing-in-ground-effect craft, dubbed the "Bohai Sea Monster." This aircraft, first observed in May, appears to have two hardpoints beneath each wing, potentially for weapons, drones, sensors, fuel tanks, or rescue equipment. The craft's performance, mission, and size remain unconfirmed, with its existence potentially being a demonstrator.
The resurgence of the "monster" brings back concerns about potential threats to Taiwan. Some view China's advances, such as this craft, as a significant military threat, while others remain skeptical, citing Taiwan's geographical and environmental challenges that would make invasion difficult. The U.S. military, including DARPA, has explored similar ground-effect vehicles, but recent efforts have encountered challenges.
Nonetheless, the allure of such aircraft is undeniable due to their unique combination of speed, payload, and ability to operate without runways, which could be advantageous for quickly deploying forces across Chinese maritime approaches.
Written by urgent.news from Newsweek's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
