Vietnam starts building largest homemade anti-submarine warship

Vietnam has begun construction on what it claims is the nation's largest and most advanced domestically manufactured anti-submarine frigate. The project, underway at the Ministry of Defense's Song Thu Shipyard in Danang City, signifies a major step in Vietnam's efforts to bolster its defense industry.

The new frigate will incorporate a significant portion of locally developed or assembled weapons and military equipment, according to the military-run Quan Doi Nhan Dan newspaper. This development is part of Vietnam's broader strategy to increase its self-reliance in defense manufacturing and decrease its dependence on imported military hardware, much of which has historically been sourced from Russia.

This endeavor underscores Vietnam's policy of fostering a defense industry that is "autonomous, self-reliant, self-strengthening, dual-use and modern," as stated in a government release. Key players in the country's technology sector, including the military-run telecoms group Viettel and various defense research units, will collaborate with the navy and the shipyard on the development and integration of the vessel's sophisticated systems.

The construction of this advanced frigate follows a period of significant modernization for the Vietnamese navy, which has acquired Russian-built Kilo-class submarines and Gepard-class frigates. The country is also preparing to host the Vietnam International Defence Expo in Hanoi this December, aiming to further promote domestic defense production and diversify its sources for military equipment.