Chinese WIG Air - Mech Craft in Development

[Ground Effect]

China, a great power in the Pacific, is particularly interested in
WIG Air-Mech technology. Chinese analysts attribute the following
advantages to WIG craft over conventional ships and aircraft:

--Superb Mobility. A WIG Air-Mech craft travels above the water's
surface to travel in the air whose density is 800 times less than that
of water. This greatly decreases the drag exerted on ordinary vessels
and greatly increases its speed. Fast transports have a top speed of
20 knots. A conventional warship has a maximum speed of 30 to 40
knots, and although the hulls of hydrofoil craft and hovercraft travel
above the water, their hydrofoils and their aprons still come in
contact with the water. Thus their speed is limited to between 70 and
80 knots or less. But a WIG Air-Mech craft can travel between 300 and
400 knots.

--Superb Airworthiness. A WIG craft can fly around bad weather or
fly above a stormy sea. Since a WIG craft is not pounded by the storm
waves it is remarkably seaworthy. It is also very airworthy.

--Ease of Operation. A WIG craft is controlled through its
vertical rudder, its elevator, and its wing flaps. It is simpler to
fly than an airplane, and it turns easily. The WIG craft's speed and
altitude are easily controlled by the flaps.

--Economical operation. Pressure under the wings of a WIG craft
increases greatly by flying fairly close to the water surface.
Consequently, only 80 to 130 horsepower are required to propel each
ton of weight. The large lift-drag ratio means that fuel-consumption
is less and the cruising radius is expanded when compared to similar-
sized aircraft. WIG craft are far superior to ordinary aircraft and
helicopters in carrying capacity, speed, and cruising radius when
using the same power.

--Convenient Maintenance. WIG craft do not need permanent shore
bases. Unlike other high-speed craft, they are able to come ashore
under their own power and do not need cranes or chutes. Furthermore,
since they have no aprons, like hovercraft, maintenance is very
convenient. WIG craft do not have to make a gliding takeoff from the
water or land on the water like seaplanes. This lessens the corrosive
effect of seawater on the hull.

--Diverse Flight Modes. Not only can WIG craft fly quickly and
steadily above water, under radar detection but they can also fly
above beaches, marshes, grasslands, deserts, glaciers, and snow-
covered land.

--Flight Safety. Should the engines fail, the WIG craft can travel
on the water like a conventional ship. They are stable craft, which
have operated safely over the years. Some WIG craft vent their engine
exhaust forward beneath the wings of the craft to create an increase
in dynamic lift. This not only assists takeoff and improves amphibious
performance, but also improves flight safety.

--Military applications. The speed, maneuverability, amphibious
capability, and reduced signature of WIG craft are greater than that
of other craft. Their fast, low-altitude approach may allow them to
become the next generation of fast attack craft replacing hydroplanes
and hydrofoils. Since WIG craft usually fly within 50 meters of the
surface, they are in the radar sweep and search blind zone. The ultra-
low altitude of WIG craft leaves no traces on the water surface and is
difficult to detect by radar. WIG craft are not optically trackable
from space like conventional surface ships. This greatly increases the
concealment and surprise attack capabilities of the craft. This
extraordinary concealment capability has extremely important military
significance. WIG craft may be used as Air-Mech landing craft and for
the rapid and effective movement of Heavy AFVs, Gavins/Ridgway and M8
Buford AGS Armored Fighting Vehicles and troops in a campaign. The low-
flying altitude, the long cruising radius, and the AFV carrying-
capacity of WIG craft are second to only ships. WIG craft are also
suited for anti-submarine patrol craft, high-speed minelayers,
minesweepers, and rescue craft.

And they do make them, see here. In fact, on that site is this photo: