Samum hovercraft to represent Russia in Blackseafor maneuvers in spring 2014
SEVASTOPOL. Feb 14 (Interfax-AVN) - The Samum missile-carrying hovercraft will represent Russia at the spring activation of the Black Sea Naval Force (Blackseafor), which will take place in the Black Sea from March 28 to April 15, Russian Black Sea Fleet spokesman Cap. 1st Rank Vyacheslav Trukhachyov said.
"The missile-carrying hovercraft Bora, which is the same type as the Samum, took part in the Blackseafor activity last year. It is expected that, during Blackseafor's activation, the crew of the Russian vessel acting as part of an international unit will perform its mission at sea and will pay business visits to the ports of Eregli (Turkey), Constanta (Romania), and Burgas (Bulgaria)," Trukhachyov told Interfax on Friday.
The Samum is the largest fast military ship using an air-cushioned catamaran in its sub-class in Russian and world shipbuilding history, he said.
The vessel consists of two narrow hulls bridged by a platform, with a flexible screen at the front. The ship's fast speed enables it to avoid being locked on by homing missiles and escape torpedoes.