Argonas
Nuclear-Powered
Ground Effect Ekranoplan
Go Nuclear with Argonas
An onboard nuclear reactor provides Argonas with ample power for propulsion, and enables the mounting of powerful directed-energy weapon systems
Pan Spatial Argonas is available in Modern Warships, the free-to-play mobile and PC game from Artstorm and Gaijin Entertainment.
Review of Pan Spatial Dragonwing gameplay in Modern Warships by Fiocing
Argonas Features
- Spiritual successor to “Caspian Sea Monster” and other late-20th-century Soviet ekranoplan projects
- Onboard nuclear powerplants provide ample electricity for propulsion and weapon systems
- Forward swept wings channel airflow inward to improve lift efficiency
- Blended wing and lifting body fuselage enhance both lift and structural sturdiness
- Ultra large scale electrically driven fans provide main thrust
- Additional thrust fans in the forward fuselage assist with takeoff and ground effect insertion
- Friggin’ enormous
Pan Spatial Designer
Tom Alfaro
Designer’s Notes
The features of the Argonas are not definitive. The purpose of the configuration design effort is to understand what different features would be needed in such a vehicle – and how they may be thoroughly integrated to create system effectivities and new physical forms that are more than a sum of their parts.
In 2023, Argonas was nominated for Excellence in Prop and Vehicle Concept Art at the Concept Art Awards concurrent with the 2023 Lightbox Expo in Pasedena, California. I provided the following excerpt to support the design.
[Spoiler alert: The awards event was very professional and exciting…
Read More
… but Argonas was not selected as the winner. Fortunately, the moment you complete a good design is the same moment you can create something twice as good – so I look forward to competing again in 2024!]
The Contract
In 2022 Artstorm FZE approached me to purchase a license to use previously completed work Killswitch in the online game Modern Warships.
In February 2023, I proposed to Artstorm a group of original designs for potential license. In that group, I included several concept aircraft that utilize the real-world aerodynamic principle of ‘ground effect’ to increase the range and speed of large aircraft at low altitude. They selected one specific configuration, provided a list of specific features to incorporate in a final design, and signed a license agreement. Two weeks later I delivered ‘Argonas’, which has subsequently been available in the game.
Enabling Technology
Ground effect vehicles have a special place in the spectrum of aviation technology. All pilots and passenger experience ground effect on every take off and landing – as more of a curious nuisance than anything.
There have been several attempts since the 1970’s to design complete aircraft that focus on and make greater use of the effect – but the limitations that occur in an overall vehicle have prevented large-scale use of the technology.
Mythos
However, ground effect vehicles have developed somewhat of a technologically and emotionally emotively driven ‘mythos’. I think it’s a combination of the implied ‘necessity’ to fly low and fast, as well as the elusive nature of the technology itself; it portends so much potential but seems just out of reach.
That mythos was driven by real-world grainy soviet-era photos of behemoth aircraft / ship hybrids called ‘ekranoplan’ – rooster-tailing across open seas – and further reinforced by modern well-engineered demonstrators – which nevertheless have thus far failed to deliver on the technological promise. But it’s that failed promise and continuing expectation that a good solution is ‘just around the corner’, that motivates dreamers, problem solvers, concept developers and others to assign a mythical, anticipatory emotion to ground effect aircraft.
My Process
I spent most of 2001 deployed aboard the USS Enterprise. As a Naval Officer with both aviation and nautical experience, as well as an B.S. in Industrial Design, that deployment was a tremendous opportunity for me to imagine and evaluate a range of new technologies – including ground effect aircraft for use at sea.
I sketched and drew several, and even built a model. The most complete design is basically what became ‘Argonas’.
Impact
I think most people recognize that a 300ft long, forward swept wing, trimaran, nuclear powered ekranoplan is pretty unlikely to be developed. But the individual components all named above ARE realistic and in use today – just not in that exact configuration.
The inclusion of the real-world components and phenomena makes it more believable, but also helps fuel the mythos of the elusive technology. 20+ years later, that “through the looking glass” awe earned Argonas a place in Modern Warships, and in the hands of millions of expectant imaginations!
I’m not a prophet, but I do know today’s art can spawn tomorrow’s science.
