Zubr, NATO reporting name Pomornik, is the Soviet/Russian Project 12322 air-cushion landing craft and is widely described as the largest military hovercraft class. It was developed to move assault troops, vehicles, and cargo rapidly from sea to shore without needing a prepared harbor. The class entered service late in the Soviet period and has been operated by Russia and several export customers.
Zubr uses powerful gas turbines, lift fans, and a large air cushion to cross water, beaches, mud, and some obstacles at high speed. It can carry tanks, armored vehicles, troops, or cargo and includes defensive guns and rocket systems for suppressing landing zones. The database category lists it as an LPD, but technically it is an LCAC-style landing craft rather than a dock landing ship.
Operationally, Zubr craft support fast amphibious assault, reinforcement, and coastal logistics. Their speed and beaching flexibility let forces bypass ports and land vehicles directly onto suitable shorelines. They are also large, noisy, and maintenance-intensive, so they require air and naval cover in contested environments. Their value is concentrated in short-range littoral operations where speed from ship or base to shore matters most.
| Name | Country | Status | Service Year | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Chinhai (LSM-621) | 🇨🇳China | ACTIVE | 2013 – Present | Chinese-built Zubr-class LCAC |
RFS Mordoviya | 🇷🇺Russian Federation | ACTIVE | 1990 – Present | Zubr Pomornik-class LCAC (world largest hovercraft) |
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