View source for Gepard-class frigate

{{short description|Russian-built warships}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2021}}
{|{{Infobox ship begin
| sclass = 2
}}
{{Infobox ship image
| Ship image = Gepard 3.9 frigate Quang Trung (016) of Vietnam People's Navy in MILAN2022 - 2.jpg
| Ship caption = ''Quang Trung'' - one of the two ships in the second batch of Gepard 3.9 built for the [[Vietnam People's Navy]]
}}
{{Infobox ship class overview
| Name = Gepard class (Project 1166.1)
| Builders = [[Zelenodolsk Plant Gorky]]
| Operators = *{{navy|Russia}}
*{{navy|Vietnam}}
| Class before = *{{sclass2|Koni|frigate|4}}
*{{sclass2|Grisha|corvette|4}}
| Class after = 
| Subclasses = *Project 11661 ''Tatarstan''
*Project 11661K ''Dagestan''
*Project 11661E Gepard:
**Gepard 3.9: Batch I; Batch II
**Gepard 5.1
**Gepard 5.3
| Cost = *11661E (Gepard 3.9 batch I): US$175 million per ship
*11661E (Gepard 3.9 batch II): US$350 million per ship (price included ammunition, maintenance packages signed between [[Vietnam]] and [[Russia]])
| Built range = 1991–2016
| In service range = 
| In commission range = 
| Total ships planned = 10
| Total ships completed = 6
| Total ships canceled = 2
| Total ships active = 6
| Total ships lost = 
| Total ships retired = 
| Total ships preserved = 
}}
{{Infobox ship characteristics
| Hide header = 
| Header caption = 
| Ship type = [[Frigate]]
| Ship displacement = *1,500 tons (standard)
*1,930 tons (full load)
| Ship length = *Approx {{convert|102.4|m|abbr=on}} (Gepard 3.9 batch II)
| Ship beam = *{{convert|13.09|m|abbr=on}}
* Approx {{convert|15|m|abbr=on}} (Gepard 3.9)
| Ship height = 
| Ship draught = {{convert|5.7|m|abbr=on}}
| Ship power = 
| Ship propulsion = Twin-shaft [[CODOG]], FPP, 2 x 14,300 + 1 x 6,000 (kW)
| Ship speed = {{convert|29|kn}}
| Ship range = {{convert|4000|nmi|km|-3|abbr=on}} at {{convert|10|kn|km/h|0}}
| Ship endurance = 20 days
| Ship complement = 94
| Ship sensors = *MR-231-1 ''Pal'' [[navigation radar]]
*''Mineral-ME'' shipborne multifunctional [[radar]] system (including guidance and target designation functions for [[cruise missile]]s)
*5P-26/MR-352 ''Pozitiv-ME1/-ME1.2'' 3D active shipborne radars
*5P-10E-03E ''Laska'' fire control radar for [[naval gun]] and [[CIWS]]
*[[Sonar]]: MGK-335EM-03 with under-keel antenna
| Ship EW = *[[Electronic warfare|EW Suite]]: 2 × Bell Shroud passive intercept, 2 × Bell Squat jammers,
*[[Countermeasure]]s: 4 × 16-barreled Pk-16 decoy launchers
| Ship armament = *Artillery: 
**1x 76.2mm [[AK-176|AK-176M/MA]] [[naval gun]]
**2x [[AK-630M]] [[CIWS]] (''Tatarstan'' and [[Vietnam People's Navy|VPN]] configuration)
*[[Cruise missile]]s:
**8x UKSK [[Vertical launching system|VLS]] cells for [[Kalibr]] missiles (''Dagestan'') (up to 16x cells in configurations offered to the export market; options for [[Kalibr|Club-N]], [[Yakhont]] and [[BrahMos]] missile systems are available)
**2x quadruple launchers (2×4) [[Kh-35]] anti-ship missiles (''Tatarstan'' and [[Vietnam People's Navy|VPN]]'s Batch I & II configuration)
*[[Anti-submarine warfare]]:
**2x 533mm DTA-53 twin-tube (2×2) torpedo launchers (not featured on [[Vietnam People's Navy|VPN]]'s Batch I)
** [[Naval mine]]s
*[[Anti-air warfare]]:
**1x [[Kashtan CIWS|Palash/Palma-SU CIWS]] featured with 8x [[Sosna-R]] [[short range air defense]] [[Surface-to-air missile|missile]]s (''Dagestan'' and [[Vietnam People's Navy|VPN]] configuration)
**1x [[9K33 Osa|Osa-M]] twin-launcher for 20x 9M33M [[short range air defense]] [[Surface-to-air missile|missile]]s (''Tatarstan'')
**12x [[Shtil-1]] [[Vertical launching system|VLS]] cells for 9M317ME medium-range [[surface-to-air missile]]s (offered configuration for the export market)
| Ship armour = 
| Ship armor = 
| Ship aircraft = 
| Ship aircraft facilities = 
| Ship notes = [https://zpkb.com/en/our-projects/voennye-korabli/gepard-3-9-frigate/]
}}
|}

The '''Gepard-class frigates''', Russian designation '''Project 11661''', is a [[Russia|Russian]] [[Ship class|class]] of [[frigate]]s that were intended as successors to the earlier {{sclass2|Koni|frigate|1}}s and {{sclass2|Grisha|corvette|5}}, and {{sclass2|Parchim|corvette|0}} [[corvette]]s. The first unit of the class, ''Yastreb'' (''Hawk''), was laid down at the [[Zelenodolsk, Republic of Tatarstan|Zelenodol'sk]] Zavod [[shipyard]] at [[Tatarstan]] in 1991. She was launched in July 1993, after which she began fitting out; fitting was nearly completed by late 1995, when it was suspended due to lack of funds. Renamed ''Tatarstan'', the ship was finally completed in July 2002, and became the [[flagship]] of the [[Caspian Flotilla]]. She has two sister ships, ''Albatross'' (renamed ''Dagestan''), and ''Burevestnik'' (''Storm Petrel''), which was still under construction {{As of|2012|lc=on}}.

[[Vietnam]] is the main operator of the class with [[Vietnam People's Navy|its navy]] having commissioned 4 frigates - twice the size of Russia's Project 11661 inventory - and having plans to order at least 2 more.

==Design==
These vessels are capable of employing their weapons systems in conditions up to [[Sea State]] 5.{{citation needed|date=July 2022}} The [[hull (watercraft)|hull]] and [[superstructure]] are constructed primarily of steel, with some [[aluminium]]-[[magnesium]] being used in the upper [[superstructure]](stealth technology). They are equipped with fin [[Stabilizer (aircraft)|stabilizers]] and twin [[rudder]]s, and can use either [[gas turbine]]s or [[Diesel engine|diesel]] for propulsion in a [[Combined diesel or gas|CODOG]] configuration.

''Gepard'' is Russian for [[cheetah]].

==Service history==
In October 2015, ''Dagestan'', in company with three other Russian Navy ships serving with the Caspian Flotilla, launched cruise missiles at targets in Syria. The missiles flew nearly {{convert|1,500|km|mi}} over Iran and Iraq and struck targets in [[Raqqa]] and [[Aleppo]] provinces (controlled by the [[Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant|Islamic State]]) as well as [[Idlib]] province (controlled by the [[al-Qaeda]]-linked [[Nusra Front]]).<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.yahoo.com/fighting-erupts-central-syria-amid-russian-airstrikes-072047268.html |title=Russia fires cruise missiles from warships into Syria |work=Yahoo! News |last1=Aji |first1=Albert |last2=Vasilyeva |first2=Nataliya |agency=Associated Press |date=7 October 2015 |access-date=9 October 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151014040244/http://news.yahoo.com/fighting-erupts-central-syria-amid-russian-airstrikes-072047268.html |archive-date=14 October 2015}}</ref> Peshmerga forces (Kurdish armed forces located in northern Iraq) published a video allegedly depicting two cruise missiles mid-flight en route to Syria.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://news.usni.org/2015/10/07/kurdish-video-lends-credibility-to-russian-navy-caspian-sea-strike-mission-claims |title=Kurdish Video Lends Credibility to Russian Navy Caspian Sea Strike Mission Claims |date=October 7, 2015 |website=USNI News}}</ref>

On 6 November 2024 an [[Aeroprakt A-22 Foxbat|A-22]] drone from the [[Armed Forces of Ukraine]] struck the [[Kaspiysk]] naval base and reportedly damaged both ''Tatarstan'' and ''Dagestan'' as well as one {{sclass2|Buyan|corvette|1}}.<ref>{{cite news|url= https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidaxe/2024/11/06/a-ukrainian-drone-motored-700-miles-and-blasted-three-russian-warships-in-one-blow/ |work= [[forbes.com]] |title= A Ukrainian Drone Motored 700 Miles And Blasted Three Russian Warships In One Blow |first= David |last= Axe |author-link= David Axe |date= 2024-11-13 |access-date= 2024-11-13}}</ref><ref>{{cite tweet|user= Gerashchenko_en |author-link= Anton Gerashchenko |number= 1854162196814516295 |title= Reports appeard that two warships were hit in Russian Kaspiysk. The "Tatarstan" and "Dagestan" missile ships were reportedly damaged in a drone strike on the Caspian Fleet in Dagestan. Small missile ships of Project 21631 Buyan-M were also damaged}}</ref>

==Export==

The Gepard-class was designed from the outset as a lightweight, inexpensive export vessel. Russia offers three variants of the class to the market:<ref>{{Cite web|title=Naval systems {{!}} Catalog Rosoboronexport|url=http://roe.ru/eng/catalog/naval-systems/surface-ships-ships-and-boats/|access-date=2021-11-29|website=roe.ru}}</ref>
*Gepard 3.9: designed to search, track and fight against surface, underwater and air enemy independently and within task force, plant mine fields, provide protection and patrol of maritime state border and exclusive economic zone, perform combat missions, patrol service. Powered by [[Gas turbine|gas-turbine]] engines with [[CODOG]] configuration. Fitted with two inclined quadruple launchers for eight [[Kh-35]] [[Anti-ship missile|anti-ship missiles]] with alternative options to be featured with VLS systems such as UKSK (for cruise missiles such as [[3M-54 Kalibr|Club-N]] and [[Yakhont]]) and [[Shtil-1]] air-defense system.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Frigate (on the base of the project 11661 escort ship) Gepard 3.9 {{!}} Catalog Rosoboronexport|url=http://roe.ru/eng/catalog/naval-systems/surface-ships-ships-and-boats/gepard-3-9/|access-date=2021-11-29|website=roe.ru}}</ref> Being the only exported variant with [[Vietnam]] being its first and only operator.
*Gepard 5.1: configured as an [[Offshore patrol vessel|ocean-going patrol ship]]. Intended for patrolling territorial waters, helping in distress on the sea, environment protection, support to marine missions and flag demonstration in areas being of state interest. Can be featured with "heavier" weapons if necessary. Powered entirely by diesel engines with a two-shaft [[CODAD]] propulsion plant.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Frigate (on the base of the project 11661) Gepard 5.3 {{!}} Catalog Rosoboronexport|url=http://roe.ru/eng/catalog/naval-systems/surface-ships-ships-and-boats/gepard-5-3/|access-date=2021-11-29|website=roe.ru}}</ref>
*Gepard 5.3: designed to search, track and fight against surface, underwater and air enemy independently and within task force, carry out convoy missions and patrol duty, guard maritime state border and economic zone. Featured with four quadruple launchers for sixteen [[Kh-35]] [[Anti-ship missile|anti-ship missiles]]. Powered by a two-shaft [[Combined diesel and diesel|CODAD]] propulsion plant.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Frigate (on the base of the project 11661) Gepard 5.3 {{!}} Catalog Rosoboronexport|url=http://roe.ru/eng/catalog/naval-systems/surface-ships-ships-and-boats/gepard-5-3/|access-date=2021-11-29|website=roe.ru}}</ref>

=== Vietnam ===
In March and August of 2011, the [[Vietnam People's Navy]] received two Gepard 3.9-class frigates ordered in 2006, built in Russia at Tatarstan's Gorky Shipbuilding Plant. In late 2011, Vietnam signed a contract for an additional batch of two ships in an anti-submarine configuration.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://rusnavy.com/news/navy/index.php?ELEMENT_ID=13819 |title=Vietnam Bought Second Batch of Russian Gepard-Class Frigates |website=rusnavy.com |date=7 December 2011 |access-date=9 October 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140902054020/http://rusnavy.com/news/navy/index.php?ELEMENT_ID=13819 |archive-date=2 September 2014}}</ref> A further two ships are being considered to bring the total order up to six vessels, and that potential acquisition is likely being stalled due to [[International sanctions during the Russo-Ukrainian War|sanctions towards Russia]] as a result of the [[2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine|Ukrainian conflicts.]]<ref>{{cite web |first=John |last=Pike |url=http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/russia/1166_1.htm |title=Project 1166.1 Gepard class |website=Globalsecurity.org |date=21 August 2014 |access-date=9 October 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?i=7439844&c=ASI&s=SEA |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120731065632/http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?i=7439844&c=ASI&s=SEA |url-status=dead |archive-date=31 July 2012 |title=Vietnam Receives Second Russian-Made Frigate |work=Defense News |agency=Agence France-Presse |date=22 August 2011 |access-date=9 October 2015}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=Vietnam raises interest in procuring improved Gepard 3.9-class frigates from Russia|url=https://www.asiapacificdefensejournal.com/2021/09/vietnam-raises-interest-in-procuring.html|access-date=2021-10-24|website=Asia Pacific Defense Journal}}</ref>

=== Sri Lanka ===
[[Sri Lanka]] began talks for the credit purchase of a Gepard 5.1 frigate in 2017 and the Sri Lankan cabinet approved the proposal by President [[Maithripala Sirisena]] for the purchase of the ship in September 2017.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.sundaytimes.lk/171203/columns/271546-271546.html |title=Deal for Rs. 20 billion++ Russian patrol vessel this week, company chief comes in private jet |date=December 3, 2017 |work=[[The Sunday Times (Sri Lanka)|The Sunday Times]] |access-date=2017-12-04}}</ref>

==Ships==
<gallery mode="packed" heights="80">
File:Caspian Frigate Tatarstan.jpg|[[Russian Navy|Russian]] [[frigate]] 691 ''Tatarstan''
File:Caspian Frigate Dagestan.jpg|[[Russian Navy|Russian]] [[frigate]] 693 ''Dagestan''
File:Vietnam People's Navy Ship 011 'Đinh Tiên Hoàng' (Project 11661E Gepard 3.9).jpg|Vietnam People Navy Ship 011 ''Đinh Tiên Hoàng''
File:Vietnam People's Navy ship 015 Trần Hưng Đạo - Project 11661E Gepard 3.9 frigate.jpg|Vietnam People's Navy Ship 015 ''Trần Hưng Đạo''
</gallery>
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! [[Pennant number|No.]]
! Name
![[Namesake]]
! [[List of ships of Russia by project number|Project designation]]
! [[Shipyard|Builder]]
! [[Laid down|Laid Down]]
! [[Ceremonial ship launching|Launched]]
! [[Ship commissioning|Commissioned]]
! [[Naval fleet|Fleet]]
! Status
|-
! colspan="10" |{{Flagicon image|Naval Ensign of Russia.svg}} [[Russian Navy]] (2)
|-
| 691
| ''Tatarstan''<br>(ex-''Yastreb'')
|[[Republic of Tatarstan]]
| 11661
| rowspan="2" | [[Zelenodolsk Shipyard]]
| 1993
| 2 July 2001
| 31 August 2003
| rowspan="2" | [[Caspian Flotilla|Caspian]]
| Active
|-
| 693
| ''Dagestan''<br>(ex-''Albatros'')
|[[Republic of Dagestan]]
| 11661K
| 1994
| 1 April 2011<ref>{{cite web |url=http://rusnavy.com/news/navy/index.php?ELEMENT_ID=11940 |title=Missile ship Dagestan was launched in Zelenodolsk |website=rusnavy.com |date=5 April 2011 |access-date=9 October 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120406112717/http://rusnavy.com/news/navy/index.php?ELEMENT_ID=11940 |archive-date=6 April 2012}}</ref>
| 28 November 2012<ref>{{cite web |url=http://rusnavy.com/news/newsofday/index.php?ELEMENT_ID=16565 |title=Caspian Flotilla Commissions New Corvette |website=rusnavy.com |date=28 November 2012 |access-date=9 October 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181224024330/http://rusnavy.com/news/newsofday/index.php?ELEMENT_ID=16565 |archive-date=2018-12-24}}</ref>
| Active
|-
! colspan="10" |{{Flagicon image|Ensign of Vietnam People's Navy.svg}} [[Vietnam People's Navy]] (4+2)
|-
| 011
| [[Vietnamese frigate Dinh Tien Hoang (HQ-011)|''Dinh Tien Hoang'']]
|[[Đinh Tiên Hoàng]]
| rowspan="2" | 11661E (Gepard 3.9 batch I)
| rowspan="4" |[[Zelenodolsk Shipyard]]
| 10 July 2007
| 12 December 2010<ref>{{cite web |url=http://rusnavy.com/news/navy/index.php?ELEMENT_ID=8274 |title=Russian shipyard built frigate for Vietnam |website=rusnavy.com |date=14 December 2009 |access-date=9 October 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200927232755/http://rusnavy.com/news/navy/index.php?ELEMENT_ID=8274 |archive-date=2020-09-27}}</ref>
| 23 March 2011<ref>{{cite web |url=http://flot.com/news/vpk/index.php?ELEMENT_ID=56698 |script-title=ru:Работы над фрегатами "Гепард" для Вьетнама близки к завершению |trans-title=Work on Gepard frigates for Vietnam close to completion |language=ru |website=flot.com |date=26 October 2010 |access-date=9 October 2015}}</ref>
| rowspan="6" |[[4th Regional Command|Naval Region 4]]
| Active
|-
| 012
| [[Vietnamese frigate Ly Thai To (HQ-012)|''Ly Thai To'']]
|[[Lý Thái Tổ]]
| 27 November 2007
| 16 March 2011{{Citation needed|date=November 2020}}
| 22 August 2011<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tuoitrenews.vn/cmlink/tuoitrenews/politics/vietnam-gets-most-modern-patrol-ship-in-region-1.41637?localLinksEnabled=false |title=Vietnam gets most modern patrol ship in region |website=[[Tuổi Trẻ]] |date=22 August 2011 |access-date=2011-12-28 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120923023003/http://www.tuoitrenews.vn/cmlink/tuoitrenews/politics/vietnam-gets-most-modern-patrol-ship-in-region-1.41637?localLinksEnabled=false |archive-date=September 23, 2012}}</ref>
| Active
|-
| 015
| ''Tran Hung Dao''
|[[Trần Hưng Đạo]]
| rowspan="2" |11661E (Gepard 3.9 batch II)
| 24 September 2013<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|date=2014-04-02|title=Chi tiết thời điểm Việt Nam nhận 2 chiến hạm Gepard-3.9 mới|url=https://datviet.trithuccuocsong.vn/quoc-phong/quoc-phong-viet-nam/chi-tiet-thoi-diem-viet-nam-nhan-2-chien-ham-gepard-39-moi-3031580/|access-date=2021-10-24|website=datviet.trithuccuocsong.vn|archive-date=24 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211024005949/https://datviet.trithuccuocsong.vn/quoc-phong/quoc-phong-viet-nam/chi-tiet-thoi-diem-viet-nam-nhan-2-chien-ham-gepard-39-moi-3031580/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
| 27 April 2016<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.zdship.ru/press-center/news-events/1813 |title=Фрегат "Гепард 3.9" тожественно спущен на воду |trans-title=The frigate "Gepard 3.9" was launched |language=ru |website=Zelenodolsk Plant |date=27 April 2016 |access-date=28 April 2016 |archive-date=6 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220206114739/https://www.zdship.ru/press-center/news-events/1813/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>
| 6 February 2018
| Active<ref>{{cite web |url=https://navaltoday.com/2017/10/30/third-gepard-frigate-arrives-to-vietnam-from-russia/ |title=Third Gepard frigate arrives to Vietnam from Russia |date=30 October 2017 |website=Naval Today |access-date=12 January 2018}}</ref>
|- 
| 016
| ''Quang Trung''
|[[Quang Trung]]
| 24 September 2013<ref name=":1" />
| 26 May 2016
| 6 February 2018
| Active<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.janes.com/article/77296/vietnam-s-fourth-gepard-frigate-arrives-in-cam-ranh-bay |title=Vietnam's fourth Gepard frigate arrives in Cam Ranh Bay |website=[[Jane's Information Group]] |access-date=4 February 2018 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180207183508/http://www.janes.com/article/77296/vietnam-s-fourth-gepard-frigate-arrives-in-cam-ranh-bay |archive-date=7 February 2018}}</ref>
|-
| -
| -
| -
| rowspan="2" |11661_ (Gepard 3.9 batch III)
| rowspan="2" | -
| -
| -
| -
| rowspan="2" | Planned<ref name=":0" />
|-
| -
| -
| -
| -
| -
| -
|-
|}

==See also==
* [[List of ships of the Soviet Navy]]
* [[List of ships of Russia by project number]]
* [[List of naval ship classes in service]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20160217010113/http://www.zdship.ru/eproducts/shipbuilding/special-purpose-vessels/459/ Project 11661 Gepard Class Frigates] @ Zelenodolsk Plant named after A.M. Gorky
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20160805003020/http://www.zdship.ru/eproducts/shipbuilding/special-purpose-vessels/460/ Project 11661 Gepard-3.9 Class Frigates] @ Zelenodolsk Plant named after A.M. Gorky
* [http://www.naval-technology.com/projects/gepard-class/ Project 11661 Gepard Class Frigates] @ Naval Technology
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20160109190749/http://fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/ship/row/rus/1166_1.htm Project 1166.1 Gepard class] @ FAS
* [http://ship.bsu.by/ship/102919 1166.1 Gepard] @ Encyclopedia of Ships {{in lang|ru}}
* [http://russianships.info/eng/warships/project_11661.htm All Gepard Class Frigates - Complete Ship List] @ RussianShips 

{{Gepard-class frigate}}
{{Soviet and Russian ships after 1945}}

[[Category:Frigate classes]]
[[Category:Gepard-class frigates| ]]
[[Category:Frigates of Russia| ]]