The Gepard-class frigates, Russian designation Project 11661, is a Russian class of frigates that were intended as successors to the earlier Koni-class frigates and Grisha, and Parchim-class corvettes. The first unit of the class, Yastreb (Hawk), was laid down at the 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^[update].

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

These vessels are capable of employing their weapons systems in conditions up to Sea State 5.^{[citation needed]} The 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 stabilizers and twin rudders, and can use either gas turbines or diesel for propulsion in a CODOG configuration.

Gepard is Russian for cheetah.

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 1,500 kilometres (930 mi) over Iran and Iraq and struck targets in Raqqa and Aleppo provinces (controlled by the Islamic State) as well as Idlib province (controlled by the al-Qaeda-linked Nusra Front).^[1] Peshmerga forces (Kurdish armed forces located in northern Iraq) published a video allegedly depicting two cruise missiles mid-flight en route to Syria.^[2]

The Gepard-class was designed from the outset as a lightweight, inexpensive export vessel. Russia offers three variants of the class to the market:^[3]

• 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 engines with CODOG configuration. Fitted with two inclined quadruple launchers for eight Kh-35 anti-ship missiles with alternative options to be featured with VLS systems such as UKSK (for cruise missiles such as Club-N and Yakhont) and Shtil-1 air-defense system.^[4] Being the only exported variant with Vietnam being its first and only operator.
• Gepard 5.1: configured as an 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.^[5]
• 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 missiles. Powered by a two-shaft CODAD propulsion plant.^[6]

• Russian frigate 691 Tatarstan
• Russian frigate 693 Dagestan
• Vietnam People Navy Ship 011 Đinh Tiên Hoàng
• Vietnam People's Navy Ship 016 Quang Trung

More information No., Name ...

No.	Name	Namesake	Project designation	Builder	Laid Down	Launched	Commissioned	Fleet	Status
Russian Navy (2)
691	Tatarstan (ex-Yastreb)	Republic of Tatarstan	11661	Zelenodolsk Shipyard	1993	2 July 2001	31 August 2003	Caspian	Active
693	Dagestan (ex-Albatros)	Republic of Dagestan	11661K		1994	1 April 2011[12]	28 November 2012[13]		Active
Vietnam People's Navy (4+2)
011	Dinh Tien Hoang	Đinh Tiên Hoàng	11661E (Gepard 3.9 batch I)	Zelenodolsk Shipyard	10 July 2007	12 December 2010[14]	23 March 2011[15]	Naval Region 4	Active
012	Ly Thai To	Lý Thái Tổ			27 November 2007	16 March 2011[citation needed]	22 August 2011[16]		Active
015	Tran Hung Dao	Trần Hưng Đạo	11661E (Gepard 3.9 batch II)		24 September 2013[17]	27 April 2016[18]	6 February 2018		Active[19]
016	Quang Trung	Quang Trung			24 September 2013[17]	26 May 2016	6 February 2018		Active[20]
-	-	-	11661_ (Gepard 3.9 batch III)	-	-	-	-		Planned[10]
-	-	-			-	-	-

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