Vietnam Considers to Buy Two More Gepard-class Frigates

12 Desember 2019

The Vietnamese Navy has received 4 Russian Gepard 3.9 missile frigate ships (photo : BaoDatViet)

Vietnam is considering the possibility of ordering to the Zelenodolsk Shipyard to supply two additional frigates of the Gepard-3.9 project. As reported Korabel.ru, this became known during the meeting of the President of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov and the Chairman of the National Assembly of Vietnam, Mrs. Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan.

Recall that the contract for the construction of the first pair of Gepard-3.9 frigates for the Vietnamese Navy was signed in 2006. Zelenodolsk plant successfully coped with the task: in 2011, both ships entered service.

An intergovernmental contract for the supply of a second pair of patrol ships was concluded in October 2012, and an agreement with the Gorky Zelenodolsk plant was signed in February 2013. In September of the same year, the laying ceremony of two frigates, known as Trần Hưng Đạo and Quang Trung, took place. They were commissioned in February 2018.

During the current visit, the Vietnam side voiced a desire to acquire a third pair of Gepard.

Light frigates of the Gepard-3.9 project with a displacement of about 2.200 tons are equipped with missile-artillery, anti-submarine, mine and anti-sabotage weapons, as well as radar equipment. A helicopter can be based on board.

Ships of the type "Gepard-3.9" are designed to combat the air, underwater and surface enemy; handling of surface and underwater conditions, setting minefields, as well as active and passive interference. The ships of this project can accompany and guard convoys, patrol borders, and fight smugglers, poachers and pirates. In addition, Gepard-3.9 is able to provide assistance to ships in distress, to seek and save people at sea.

(FlotProm)