Advertisement
The Gulf conflict has disrupted global supply chains, pushed...
REITs have changed the way commercial real estate is owned a...
What does it take to preserve a real estate legacy while bui...
What really powers the cloud? Behind every Google search, A...
A lot of what defines a home isn’t visible at handover. I...
Vietnam has started construction of what it describes as its largest and most advanced domestically made anti-submarine frigate, marking another step in its efforts to strengthen local defence manufacturing. The vessel is being built at the defence ministry’s Song Thu Shipyard in Danang City, with most of its weapons and military equipment expected to be developed or assembled within the country. The project involves Viettel and other defence research and manufacturing units working with the navy and shipyard. The move also comes as Vietnam seeks to reduce its dependence on imported military equipment, particularly from Russia.
Vietnam has begun building a new anti-submarine frigate that the country’s military media has described as its largest and most advanced warship developed domestically. Construction is taking place at the defence ministry’s Song Thu Shipyard in Danang City.
The vessel is expected to rely heavily on equipment produced or assembled in Vietnam. According to the military-run Quan Doi Nhan Dan newspaper, most of the ship’s weapons and military systems will be developed or assembled domestically, making the project an important part of Vietnam’s efforts to increase its capacity to design and manufacture defence equipment locally.
Military-run telecommunications and technology group Viettel, along with other defence research and manufacturing organisations, will work with the Vietnamese navy and Song Thu Shipyard during the construction process. Their role will include the development and installation of weapons and other military equipment on the vessel.
The project is part of Vietnam’s broader effort to reduce its dependence on imported military hardware. The country has traditionally relied heavily on foreign suppliers, particularly Russia, for major naval equipment. At the same time, Vietnam has been developing its own defence manufacturing capabilities as it manages long-running maritime disputes with China and other countries claiming parts of the South China Sea.
The Vietnamese government has linked the project to its policy of developing a defence industry that is autonomous, self-reliant, self-strengthening, dual-use and modern. The focus is therefore not limited to producing individual vessels but also involves building domestic capabilities across defence research, manufacturing and technology.
Vietnam’s navy has been undergoing modernisation for several years. Its fleet includes Russian-built Kilo-class submarines and Gepard-class frigates, while Vietnamese shipyards have also expanded their production of domestically built missile boats and patrol vessels. The new frigate adds to this growing domestic shipbuilding capability.
The move also comes as Vietnam prepares for the third edition of the Vietnam International Defence Expo in Hanoi. The event is scheduled to take place from December 10 to 13, 2026, at Gia Lam Airport and is being hosted by the Ministry of National Defence. The exhibition is expected to provide a platform for Vietnamese defence manufacturers as well as international companies to display military equipment, technologies and systems.
Vietnam has said the defence expo is intended to support domestic defence production while also widening opportunities for international manufacturers, original equipment manufacturers and suppliers to introduce technologies and equipment in the country. The government has also been working to diversify its defence procurement sources rather than relying on a limited group of foreign suppliers.
Source Reuters
Advertisement
Facebook
Whatsapp
