Bartini Beriev VVA-14



The Bartini Beriev VVA-14 Vertikal`no-Vzletayuschaya Amphibia (Vertical Take-off Amphibious Aircraft") was a Soviet project aimed at producing an amphibious aircraft able to engage and destroy American Polaris missile submarines, which produced two prototypes between 1972 and 1987, when the remaining prototype was retired. Despite being designed for vertical takeoff, the fan allowing this was never fitted to either prototype. The VVA-14 utilized the wing-in-ground-effect (WIG), a phenomenon whereby an aircraft flying extremely low to the ground generates an air cushion beneath its wings, which can be used as a method of sustaining flight; this type of aircraft is known in Russia as an Ekranoplan.

The VVA-14 was another of the advanced vehicle projects that GRU Colonel Volgin carried to completion much earlier than expected, using the massive funding of the Philosophers' Legacy. A number were seen on the main runway of Groznyj Grad (with at least one being destroyed by Colonel Volgin piloting the Shagohod) and one was later used by EVA and Naked Snake to make their escape from Tselinoyask. The one EVA used was a prototype supplied to GRU, and it also had no weapons systems installed yet. In addition, they narrowly escaped Tselinoyarsk in the WIG, both due to engine problems (Ocelot shot out one of the engines in order to board the WIG for a final duel with Snake) and nearly being shot down by two MiGs.