Experts dismiss PLA Navy's landing craft from Ukraine as giant toys

China's purchase of four of the world's largest military hovercraft, the Zubr-class Landing Craft Air Cushion (LCAC), from Ukraine for US$3.15 million might have shocked neighbouring countries, but military experts have dismissed them as "giant toys".

Defence ministry spokesman Geng Yansheng confirmed at a press briefing late last month that Beijing had imported an LCAC for the People's Liberation Army Navy.

Geng did not say which fleet would be the first to put the giant Zubr into service, but Xinhua reported that the first LCAC had reached Guangzhou on May 24, raising speculation that it might join the South Sea Fleet, which is responsible for operations in the South China Sea, amid simmering territorial tensions between China and Vietnam and China and the Philippines.

Read more