Raketa unveils the Ekranoplan

Partner content

July 2023

The Raketa Watch Factory launches a new tool watch dedicated to the Lun-class Ekranoplan: a Soviet-era hybrid machine - half ship, half plane - unlike anything else! Especially for this model, Raketa developed a new stainless steel case and metal band: its sturdy design corresponds to the looks and spirit of the Ekranoplan.

Raketa unveils the Ekranoplan

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Partner content

July 2023

art ship and part plane, the Lun-class Ekranoplan was built in the early 1980s by the Soviet Union as an experimental coastal defence vehicle. It can claim to be one of the most extraordinary machines ever built by mankind. It combined the best characteristics of a ship and that of a plane: it could carry as much cargo as a ship and fly as fast as an airplane at speeds of up to 500 km/h.

It flew over distances of up to 2,000 km using lift generated by the “ground effect” acting on its large wings when about four meters above the surface of the water. This enabled the Ekranoplan to fly undetected by radars.

The name “Lun” was chosen because it comes from the Russian word for “harrier”, a bird which characteristically hunts by flying silently low over open ground.

The only Lun-class Ekranoplan ever built lies today on a beach of the Caspian sea near the city of Derbent (Russia), as a lonely reminder of past achievements. With its gigantic size, unique hybrid characteristics and quirky design, the Ekranoplan is a testimony to the incredible originality of Soviet-era engineering. Even now, after almost half a century, it looks incredibly futuristic.

The Raketa Watch Factory has always been inspired by incredible human technical achievements. It has therefore designed and manufactured a tool watch as testimony to the Ekranoplan. Raketa also hopes this will attract more attention to the Ekranoplan, and thus contribute to saving it.

Especially for this model, Raketa developed a new stainless steel case and metal band: its sturdy design corresponds to the looks and spirit of the Soviet-era Ekranoplan. The Raketa “Ekranoplan” watch is directly linked to the Lun-class Ekranoplan:

The insert of the rotating bezel is made from a piece of metal from the Lun-class Ekranoplan, officially given by the city of Derbent which is in charge of safeguarding the Ekranoplan;
The design of the compass markings on the bezel is directly inspired by the design of the compass on the control panel in the cockpit of the Ekranoplan;
An embossed image of the Ekranoplan is printed on the dial.

The back of the watch reveals the beautifully decorated 24-hour automatic movement which is entirely produced by the Raketa Watch Factory in Saint-Petersburg.

The Raketa Ekranoplan is limited to 500 pieces. Each watch is complemented with a leather strap. The model is also available as part of a gift set which includes the Raketa Ekranoplan watch with stainless steel bracelet, an additional leather strap and a 1:400 scale model of the Lun-class Ekranoplan.

The cost of the watch is 1,667 EUR (without VAT), while the cost of the gift set is 2083 EUR (without VAT). For the comfort of customers, Raketa watches are delivered worldwide free of charge by DHL directly up to their front door.