Military hovercraft design awarded approval in principle by Lloyd's Register

Lloyd's Register has granted UK builder Griffon Hoverwork approval in principle (AIP) for a new class of air-cushioned landing craft (LCAC) developed primarily as an amphibious transport for military operators.

This certification encompasses critical aspects of the craft's design, including lifting systems, stability, piping systems, hull structure, and mechanical and electrical systems.

Designed for interoperability with both new and legacy amphibious ships, the LCAC is engineered to operate in harsh and extreme conditions, ensuring reliability and performance in diverse operational scenarios. It also offers a top speed of 50 knots and a payload capacity exceeding 52 tonnes.

Key features of the design include a bridge, an observation cabin and troop cabins with ballistic protection panels; bow and stern ramps; an electrically powered bow thruster to provide better crosswind handling; and a cargo deck with a total area of more than 150 square metres to accommodate main battle tanks and other military vehicles.

An inclined cascade rudder system adds more manoeuvrability and overall performance while a fully customisable navigation and communication suite can be catered to customer requirements.