Vietnam is Negotiating to Buy More New Gepard Ships

14 September 2021

Vietnamese People's Navy 015 Tran Hung Dao frigate (photo : SputnikNews)

As is known, the Vietnamese Navy has 4 Gepard 3.9 missile ships built by Russia. Two of them - "Tran Hung Dao" (number 015) and "Quang Trung" (number 016) - have just visited Vladivostok - the base of the Russian Pacific Fleet. The crew of a frigate representing the Vietnamese Navy in the Sea Cup competition (Asia-Pacific region) within the framework of the Army-2021 Military Sports Festival , won an honorary silver medal. 

Within the framework of the Eastern Economic Forum, the director of the Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation of Russia (FSMTC) Dmitry Shugaev announced the interest of the Vietnamese side in purchasing more warships of this type.

It is too early to jump to conclusions. It would be hasty now, to talk about any particular ship, about its shape and armament. The contract has not yet been signed.

Previously, the media reported that the Vietnamese side was said to be dissatisfied with the anti-aircraft weapons on the existing "Gepard" and expressed a wish that the newly ordered ships would be equipped with a more powerful system. This will certainly be taken into account by the Russian side. 

It should be understood, however, that we are talking about frigates operating in close waters with relatively small displacements. Therefore, it is technically difficult to install powerful anti-aircraft missile systems on it, the weapons that are equipped with cruise missile, anti-ship cruise missile, anti-aircraft cruise missile and large weapon to counter submarines in the ocean. 

At the same time, the armament of the battleship "Gepard 3.9", even in the basic version, allowed the ship to be able to counter the fleet of potential opponents, attack land targets and respond air attacks. Means carrying out direct combat missions. 

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