The Wingship's Potential For Strategic Lift

This 1995 executive research project, authored by Lieutenant Colonel Peter C. Losi at the Industrial College of the Armed Forces, evaluates the potential of 'wingships'—Wing-In-Ground-effect (WIG) aircraft—as strategic mobility vehicles for the United States military. The report was prompted by the emergence of Russian WIG technology, specifically the 'Caspian Sea Monster' observed by the Defense Intelligence Agency in 1967, and subsequent lobbying by the American company Aerocon. The author examines the technical, economic, and political feasibility of developing a 5,000-ton wingship capable of transoceanic range and high-speed cargo transport. The report details the findings of the Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA), which was tasked by Congress in 1993 to assess the military utility of such vehicles. ARPA's study identified significant technical and financial hurdles, including a 'power mismatch' during takeoff and estimated development costs exceeding $60 billion. Despite these challenges, the author argues that wingships offer unique capabilities for missions such as disaster response, special operations insertion, and mine clearing. A central theme of the report is the value of international cooperation, specifically with Russia, to leverage their decades of experience in WIG technology. The author suggests that an incremental 'go slow' approach, focusing on smaller prototypes, would be more prudent than immediate full-scale development of a 5,000-ton craft. Furthermore, the report contextualizes the wingship within the broader 'grand strategy' of the post-Cold War era, noting that while wingships might not solve the current strategic mobility shortfall, they represent a 'dual-use' technology that could revitalize the U.S. shipbuilding industry and foster positive diplomatic relations with Russia. The author concludes that while the wingship is an exciting frontier, it is unlikely to be funded as a primary strategic lifter in the current fiscal climate, though it remains a concept that 'bears watching' for future military and commercial applications.