New Generation Hovercraft

A new, multi-role hovercraft-the largest ever to be manufactured in fibre reinforced plastic is pictured on trials off the south coast of England. With a top speed of 50 knots and a payload capacity of up to 77 personnel, the ABS M-10 can be used for a wide variety of military and civilian operations.

Its range of uses includes surveillance and anti-smuggling tasks, sea rescue missions and oil spill "clean up" exercises-speeding heavy cleaning equipment and detergents to locations otherwise inaccessible from land or sea.

Even at night, the M-10 is the first of a new generation of hovercraft made from Kevlararamid composites instead of traditional aluminium construction, allowing greater speed and providing a comparatively low radar signature, helping it to remain undetected while on patrol, specialised military tasks include inshore mine clearance work as well as deployment as a logistic supply vessel.