Russia To Supply Two Gepard Class Frigates To Vietnam This Year

Russia will supply two Gepard-3.9 frigates to Vietnamese Navy by the end of this year.

"Both ships (Gepard-3.9s) will be launched in April-May 2016. Then we will start the basin trials of the frigates. The ships will be supplied to Vietnam in the third quarter of 2016," Director General of the Zelenodolsk Shipyard Renet Mistakhov was quoted as saying by Tass at the DSA 2016.

He pointed out, that the propulsion systems of both frigates have already been mounted and the related electrical works have been finished. Mistakhov mentioned, that Hanoi will receive both ships without helicopters.

The third Gepard class frigate will be set afloat on Wednesday to undergo trials. The construction of the fourth one is nearing completion at the shipyard.

The first two Gepard class frigates were received by the Vietnamese Navy in 2011. Vietnam later signed a new contract for another two project 11661 frigates.

Vietnam navy has acquired much Russian hardware over the past few years to strengthen its capabilities. The capabilities include Kilo-class submarines, Gepard-class guided missile stealth frigates and Svetlyak-class fast patrol boats.