Designer:  Neptune CDB (St. Petersburg)

Part in design:  Sea Tech Ltd, 2014

Customer:  Russian Ministry of Defense

Yards:  Neptune yard (St. Petersburg) and partner shipyard in South Africa

The amphibious air-cushion boat (hovercraft) is designed for year-round use and transportation of up to 15 passengers in soft seats (in the passenger version of the boat).

The vessel's detailed design was developed by the Neptune CDB in collaboration with the Sea Tech DB. Sea Tech co-developed the structural design, strength calculations, and layout, designed the saloon interior, and completed the hull workshop drawings.

The lead vessel, Pardus, was built and commissioned in 2015.

Operation is permitted at outside temperatures from -40°C to +35°C and wind speeds up to 12 m/s, year-round, during daylight hours, with waves no greater than 1.2 m. The boat can operate in hovercraft or displacement mode.

The boat can operate on:

- surface water,

- shallow waters, with access to flat shore areas,

- marshy surfaces and reed beds,

- solid ice,

- slush ice and floating ice with icing-related time limitations.

The Pardus differs from other hovercrafts in its unique transmission, midship-mounted powerplant, and fully hydraulic drive system for the lift blowers and propellers, which improves reliability in the Arctic and Siberian climates. Separate propulsion systems and steerable propellers ensure excellent maneuverability. The hull, made of corrosion-resistant aluminum alloys, and a composite superstructure make the boat durable, lightweight, and comfortable.

Transportation of the boat (with dismantled side sections, engine nacelles and nozzles) can be provided by road, rail and sea transport.