Vietnamese warship participates in ASEAN – Russia naval drills
The frigate HQ-012 Ly Thai To has arrived in Indonesia to participate in the ARNEX joint exercise between ASEAN and Russia.
The ship left Cam Ranh military port in the central Khanh Hoa Province on Tuesday afternoon for Indonesia to participate in the ASEAN – Russia Naval Exercise (ARNEX), the first of its kind held to ensure the safety of maritime economic activity and civil navigation.
The Vietnamese crew will participate in practical activities like communications, formation, search and rescue, and greeting each other at sea during the event in Indonesia’s waters, according to Vietnam People’s Navy newspaper.
The drill aims to implement agreements from the 14th ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting which Vietnam chaired, and at the same time, shows Vietnam’s support in promoting the ASEAN – Russia relationship.
Russian Ambassador to ASEAN Alexander Ivanov told Russian news agency Sputnik the drill will take place in North Sumatra on Dec. 1-3.
The exercise aims to develop cooperation between the Russian Navy and those of ASEAN member countries to provide security for maritime commercial activities and traffic, and will be divided into two phases — virtual and maritime. Defense Minister of the Republic of Indonesia Prabowo Subianto plans to launch the drill on board anti-submarine vessel Admiral Panteleev, he added.
The Gepard-class frigate HQ-012 Ly Thai To was built by Russia with advanced military equipment.
In May 2006, Vietnam and Russia signed a $350 million contract for two Gepard-class frigates. The ships were delivered to the Vietnamese Navy in March 2011 and named after Vietnamese kings Dinh Tien Hoang and Ly Thai To.
The HQ-012 Ly Thai To is designed to perform searches, track and destroy floating target ships and patrol territorial waters as well as special economic areas. The ship is equipped with stealth technology to minimize detection by enemy radar.
By Vu Anh – VnExpress.net – November 24, 2021