Vietnam Launches Domestic Build of Advanced ASW Frigate
The Vietnamese defence sector has initiated construction of the nation’s largest and most sophisticated indigenous anti-submarine warfare (ASW) frigate, according to a report in a military-affiliated publication.
The platform is taking shape at the Ministry of Defence’s Song Thu Shipyard in Da Nang. Once completed, the vessel will integrate the majority of its weapon systems and mission-critical sensors from domestic sources, reinforcing Vietnam’s drive toward self-reliance in naval modernisation.
Specifications and delivery timelines remain classified, yet industry sources indicate the frigate will displace in excess of 2 500 tonnes and will be optimised for extended ASW patrols, surface surveillance and point-defence operations across the South China Sea.
This milestone underscores Vietnam’s expanding shipbuilding capability and its strategic emphasis on countering underwater threats in contested littoral waters.