VietNamNet Bridge – According to Russian newspapers, Vedette-boat Dinh Tien Hoang (named after a Vietnamese king), which was built by Zelenodolsk Gorky has landed at Cam Ranh Military Port in the central province of Khanh Hoa.


Dinh Tien Hoang vedette-boat.
After being tested, the vedette-boat was carried to Vietnam by cargo ship Eide Transporter. It arrived in Vietnam on July 25.

The first Dinh Tien Hoang vedette-boat arrived in Vietnam on March 5, 2011.

The Gepard-class was designed from the outset as a lightweight, inexpensive export vessel. The Russians have offered five variants for foreign sale.

Gepard 1: Helicopter platform (no hangar), VDS deleted.
Gepard 2: Helicopter platform and hangar, VDS and SA-N-4 deleted.
Gepard 3: Increased beam of 13.8 m., displacement increased to 2,100 tons full load, single forward-placed Kortik CIWS in place of AK-630s, helicopter hangar above VDS housing.
Gepard 4: Unarmed version for search-and-rescue, though weapon mountings still in place.
Gepard 5: Helicopter platform (no hangar), increased range to 6,000 nmi (11,000 km) at 10 knots (19 km/h) knots, reduced speed of 23 knots (43 km/h), gas turbines replaced with 2 8,000 bhp (6,000 kW) diesels.

Vietnam has ordered two Gepard 3.9 class frigates in 2006 – Dinh Tien Hoang 1 and Dinh Tien Hoang 2. They were built in Russia at Tatarstan's Zelenodolsk Gorky Shipbuilding Plant.


These vessels are capable of employing weapons in up to Sea State 5. The hull and superstructure are constructed primarily of steel, with some aluminum-magnesium being used in the upper superstructure. They are equipped with fin stabilizers and twin rudders, and can use either gas turbines or diesel for propulsion in a CODOG configuration.

In related news, the marine police force has received the first of three CASA C212-400 all-round surveillance planes ordered from Airbus.

The C-212-400 aircraft can carry out an eight-hour patrol and cover a distance of 1,000nm. The aircraft has excellent low speed and low altitude maneuverability for surveillance missions and dissuasion operations, and is also optimized for operation in high altitude and high temperature climatic conditions.

Hoang Thuy