Spasatel

Spasatel (Спасатель "The Rescuer", Project 9038) is a ground-effect vehicle, originally planned by the Soviet Ministry of Defense. The vehicle was intended to serve as the missile carrier of the project "Lun"-class ekranoplan, but was then converted into an ambulance craft. Following the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, construction was halted and the vehicle was never completed. Russia has revived the project to be used for search and rescue operations in the Arctic and Pacific, as well as cargo and troop delivery (up to 550 troops) to remote military bases.
Goals.
A military advantage of ground-effect vehicles over ships and submarines was that they did not have draft during operation, and therefore could not be detected by sonar and could not be hit by torpedoes. Advantages over aircraft include operation at low altitude, which makes radar acquisition difficult, and a larger payload. This was particularly interesting during the Cold War as a way to inconspicuously and quickly transport many people or large cargo over long distances.
History.
The "Spasatel" was originally built as a second "Lun"-class anti-ship missile-carrying ekranoplan. After the Soviet nuclear submarine "K-278 Komsomolets" sank in 1989, killing 42 people, the "Spasatel" was repurposed to be deployed in the maritime search and rescue mission, and seating for up to 500 passengers was planned.
After the disintegration of the Soviet Union, the project was cancelled for financial reasons. Military operations at sea were also greatly reduced, so the intended use became less important. The unfinished "Spasatel" is stored in an old industrial complex in Nizhny Novgorod as of 2020.
Present.
According to press reports in December 2017, the development of the "Spasatel" might be resumed, for use mainly in Arctic waters, with production beginning in 2025. According to Russian media, the project is included in the arms budget for the years 2018 to 2025.