New image of China’s ‘Bohai Sea Monster’ reveals an unusual design, with propellers visible instead of jets

A fresh image of China’s mysterious wing-in-ground effect (WIG) craft, dubbed the “Bohai Sea Monster,” has sparked renewed debate among defense watchers about its functionality. Posted on X by a user, Alex Luck, on September 7, the photo shows that the vehicle is equipped with propellers rather than jet engines, as some had previously speculated. Luck noted that the design “is not jet-powered,” countering earlier assumptions from July when the craft’s first photos surfaced. At the time, reports suggested it could use jet propulsion. An article published in The War Zone on July 5 reported the possibility of a hybrid-electric system instead.



Billy Thalheimer, co-founder of US-based company REGENT, which develops all-electric Seagliders, weighed in on the latest images. “New photos of China’s WIG, aka Bohai Sea Monster, show propellers, not jets,” he said on X, adding that the design “looks like it may be using upper surface blowing to generate higher lift, not all too different from our Seaglider.”


Seagliders are all-electric maritime vehicles designed for high-speed, zero-emission coastal transportation. REGENT’s flagship model, the 12-passenger Viceroy, operates just above the water surface, taking advantage of ground effect to maximize efficiency.

Bohai Sea Monster: What's the difference now?

The latest photo shows the Bohai Sea Monster’s propellers mounted well above the waterline, a design choice that, according to Thalheimer, could serve several purposes: minimizing exposure to sea spray and reducing maintenance needs, prolonging propeller blade life, and enabling wing blowing to improve lift for smoother, slower takeoffs and landings.

What exactly is an ekranoplan?

Ekranoplans combine elements of boats, airplanes, and hovercrafts, but they are not the same thing. These planes glide only a few meters above sea level thanks to the "ground effect," which is a cushion of air trapped between the wings and the water's surface. Because of this, they can stay under radar horizons, are faster than ships, and use less fuel than low-flying aircraft.

The Chinese craft, too, appears to be built on similar principles. Like the Cold War-era Soviet Caspian Sea Monster and Lun-class ekranoplans, it flies just meters above the sea using a cushion of air. This allows it to travel faster than ships while staying below most radar detection, a design that carries both civilian and potential military applications.

China’s 'Bohai Sea Monster' vs other ekranoplan project

The newly photographed Chinese ekranoplan is being hailed as the largest design of its kind since the Soviet era, showcasing several distinctive features. It is equipped with four jet engines mounted above the wings, featuring flattened exhaust nozzles likely intended to direct thrust downward during takeoff and landing.

The craft employs a T-tail structure with dual vertical stabilizers, common in historic ekranoplans but unusual in conventional aircraft, paired with a short wingspan and oversized rear section to maximize lift and stability in ground-effect flight. Its grey camouflage paint suggests potential military transport or amphibious roles, while wingtip sponsons and a stepped flying-boat hull enable operations both on water and in close-to-surface flight.