ðə ɹˈʌʃənz klˈæsᵻfˌaɪ ɪɾ æz ˈɛkɹɐnˌɑːplən klˈæs bˈiː ɪt kæn ɐtʃˈiːv ɐn ˈæltɪtˌuːd ʌv , plˈeɪsɪŋ ɪt bᵻtwˌiːn klˈæs ˈeɪ wˌɪtʃ ɪz lˈɪmɪɾᵻd tə ɡɹˈaʊnd ɪfˈɛkt, ænd klˈæs sˈiː, wˌɪtʃ ɛksplˈɔɪts ðə ɡɹˈaʊnd ɪfˈɛkt ˈoʊnli dˈʊɹɹɪŋ tˈeɪkˈɔfs ænd lˈændɪŋz ænd ˈʌðɚwˌaɪz fˈʌŋkʃənz æz ɐ tˈɪpɪkəl ˈɛɹpleɪn.
The Russians classify it as Ekranoplan Class B – it can achieve an altitude of , placing it between Class A – which is limited to ground effect, and Class C, which exploits the ground effect only during take-offs and landings and otherwise functions as a typical airplane.