Vietnam People’s Navy (Hải quân nhân dân Việt Nam) guided missile frigates Trần HÆ°ng Äạo (HQ-015) and Quang Trung (HQ-016) arrived in Vladivostok in the Russian Far East to take part in the celebrations of Russia’s Navy Day. The warships have entered the Zolotoi Rog Bay and are assuming their positions in the parade formation with the help of the tugs of the Russian Navy Pacific Fleet.
Russia will hold its Main Naval Parade on Navy Day in St. Petersburg on July 25 to mark the Fleet’s 325th anniversary. Naval parades will also take place in Severomorsk, Baltiysk, Sevastopol, Kaspiysk, Vladivostok and Tartus (Syria). A total of 16 sets of roadstead equipment have been installed in the bay for the parade formation. Overall, the festivities will involve seven combat ships. The final rehearsal of the Pacific Fleet’s ships will take place on July 23.
Trần HÆ°ng Äạo (HQ-015) and Quang Trung (HQ-016) are Gepard-class frigate (Gepard 3.9 type). The Vietnam People’s Navy received in March and August 2011 two Gepard 3.9-class frigates ordered in 2006. In late 2011 Vietnam signed a contract for an additional batch of two missile frigates in an anti-submarine version. A further two missile frigates were ordered in 2014 to bring the total order up to six vessels.
At the request of the Vietnam People’s Navy the ship known as Project 11661 was completely redesigned to become Gepard 3.9. The redesigned ships include stealth technology and the most advanced weapons available from Russia today, including air defense systems, Palma Close-in weapon system AK-630, Kh-35 anti-ship missiles, and Kamov Ka-27 helicopters. The anti-submarine technology includes the RBU-6000 anti-submarine rocket launcher.
