Vietnam Breaks Ground on Country's Largest and Most Advanced Domestically Built Anti-Submarine Warship

DA NANG — Marking a major milestone in its military modernization and defense self-reliance, Vietnam has officially commenced construction on its largest and most advanced domestically manufactured anti-submarine warship.

A ceremonial steel-cutting and launch event was held in the central coastal city of Da Nang, jointly organized by the Vietnam People's Navy and the Song Thu Corporation under the General Department of Defence Industry.

A Leap in Defense Self-Reliance

Senior Lieutenant General Pham Hoai Nam, Deputy Minister of National Defence, attended the ceremony and emphasized the strategic significance of the project. He noted that the multi-purpose anti-submarine frigate is being constructed entirely using locally developed technologies, expertise, and infrastructure.

"Against the backdrop of rapid, complex, and unpredictable developments in the world and the region, we must continuously strengthen our overall capabilities, ensure strategic self-reliance in weapons and technical equipment, and build a revolutionary, regular, elite, and modern military," General Nam stated.

The landmark project aligns with national directives aimed at leveraging Vietnam's maritime position and transitioning the domestic defense sector toward a resilient, dual-use, and modern industrial framework.

Cutting-Edge Capabilities

Scheduled for completion within a 36-month window, the new-generation frigate is engineered specifically to detect, track, and neutralize hostile submarines.

According to military disclosures, the warship will feature advanced indigenous systems, including:

 

* An Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar system.

 * Advanced air-defense missile systems.

 * State-of-the-art anti-ship missiles engineered by the Viettel Military Industry and Telecoms Group alongside defense industry factories.

Military analysts view the project as a critical evolution for Vietnam’s naval shipbuilding sector, demonstrating a successful mastery of core design, system integration, and advanced manufacturing technologies.

The Ministry of National Defence has instructed the Navy, Song Thu Corporation, and supporting technology partners to maintain rigorous oversight throughout the construction, testing, and eventual integration phases to ensure the warship meets elite operational standards upon delivery.