Talk:AFOH/@comment-14850713-20150926114122

IC:

The fleet is currently testing a ground effect vehicle (GEV) in the gunship role. At 230 m in length, Kingfisher is the largest such ship (not aircraft) ever made, far larger than the Kaspian Monster developed by the Soviets in the 1960s. It is armed with 6 30.5 cm guns (2 rail guns and 4 conventional in twin turrets) firing extended range guided munitions (ERGM) along its ventral spine. Powered by 8 engines (2 main turbofans recessed in the aft hull and 6 smaller ones mounted in canards), it skims 20 m above the surface at 500 kph. Kingfisher is being studied as a new platform for the Mark 8 240 cm rail gun to replace the Normandie-class battle cruisers (which will be converted to Gascognes) in the aerospace defense mission.