N03-122-68 LCAC

Landing Craft Air Cushion (LCAC for short) is a modern American transport hovercraft. The first prototypes of the vehicle were created in the 1980s, and serial production started in 1986 and is still ongoing. It is estimated that about 90 vehicles of this type were produced. LCAC is powered by four gas turbines. The armament of a hovercraft usually consists of two 12.7mm machine guns, but it is possible to extend it with additional machine guns or automatic grenade launchers. Design work on the LCAC began in the early 1970s, and due to the considerable complexity of the project, extended to the early 1980s. Ultimately, however, a technically refined, fully amphibious high-speed hovercraft (over 70 knots) was created, capable of taking on deck cargo weighing up to 75 tons while maintaining a speed of 40 knots. LCAC can take on board both armored personnel carriers (eg LAV-25) and MBTs (eg M1 Abrams). The hovercraft is also very easy to load and unload. Vehicles of this type are used primarily by the US Navy and the Japanese Self-Defense Forces.