Two planing sponsons act as aerodynamic end plates of the central 'channel flow' or ram wing.
In 1978, Kallio,[4] of the David W. Taylor Naval Ship Research and Development Center, performed comparative tests between the KUDU II and the KAAMA.
The data obtained during comparative trials show that the KUDU II pitch motion, in sea state 2, at about 40 to 60 knots (110 km/h), is about 30% to 60% lower than the conventional planing hull KAAMA.
In 1996, Privalov and Kirillovikh [5] presented a new vehicle concept called TAP, Transport Amphibious Platform.
It moves always in contact with the water and uses an aerodynamic cushion effect, obtained by forcing the powerplant gas jets beneath the platform between the hulls.
The theoretical analysis and computed results show that reductions in total drag around 50% can be obtained at very high speed.