Russia supplies corvettes to Vietnam

Rosoboronexport signed a contract with Vietnam for the delivery of two Project 11661 “Gepard” corvettes, developed by the Zelenodolsk Design Bureau, and the “Bastion” antiship coastal missile system. According to journalistic sources, the total value of this deal is about $300 million excluding the armament costs.

The corvettes feature a displacement of over 2,000 tons and a maximum speed of 27 knots. The dimensions are 102.2m long, 13.8m wide and 5.3m draught. It will be equipped with a flight deck for KA-28 helicopters. They are armed with an antiship missile system, an air defence missile system, a 76mm gun mount and 30mm automatic guns. The corvettes can be fitted with ASW armament.

For the Russian Navy, the Zelenodolsk-based Gorky Shipbuilding Plant has built the first ship of this class, the “Tatarstan”, currently in service in the Caspian Sea. The second one, the “Dagestan”, has almost been completed. The corvettes intended for Vietnam will also be built by this Tatarstan-based enterprise. According to press reports, Vietnam is planning on building of two more units of these corvettes at its own shipyards.