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This drawing of a manned EKIP proposal gives some indication of how the propulsive system functions. EKIP 110 arrangements were tested to overcome this, but the ongoing research programme pro- vided results that were generally encouraging. It was hoped to follow the L-1 vehicle with an even larger one-man prototype built from steel and composite materials, with a fully equipped cockpit and an ejector seat. For propulsion, all larger versions of EKIP would use two turbofan engines with reheat that was applied for STOL operation. Air inlets are posi- tioned at the front of the aircraft and letterbox exhaust ducts fitted that swivel for thrust vec- toring. Two additional gas turbines would be employed for lift and there are thought to be a series of vents or louvres at the lower rear of the vehicle’s underside. All four engines would be designed to run on a variety of fuels from aviation grade kerosene to liquefied gas. EKIP could best be described as a lifting body aircraft and ground effect vehicle hybrid, but without a skirt — the small wings are for control rather than lift. The relatively high lift-drag ratio and laminar flow provided by the boundary layer control system appears to be the key feature allowing this machine to perform as an aircraft. EKIP would be able to make very steep descents at an angle of attack as great as 40°, a feature made possi- ble by the vortex boundary layer airflow con- trol system, which ensures a constant airflow at high angles of attack. The designers have also claimed that EKIP could make a satisfac- tory emergency landing in the event of total engine power loss. Unfortunately, despite great promise, the cash-strapped Russian government was unwilling to continue funding experimental projects like EKIP and the project came to a halt in the late 1990s. EKIP then remained dormant until the Americans took an interest and NAVAIR began to explore the possibility of taking over development. During 2005 var- ious journals reported that NAVAIR had for- malised an agreement with Saratov Aviation to jointly develop EKIP as a manned and unmanned combat/transport vehicle for the US Navy and US Marines. Some reports men- tioned the initial construction of a new small Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) version of EKIP weighing 500 1b (226kg), which would fly at NAS Patuxent River during 2007. However, during July 2005, NAVAIR made it clear that the EKIP project was at an end and there were no plans to pursue further devel- opment of propulsion systems for these Drawing of advanced EKIP proposal. EKIP Secret Projects: Flying Saucer Aircraft