Vietnam Begins Construction of Its Largest-Ever Indigenous Frigate
Vietnam formally began construction of its largest and most advanced indigenous frigate yet, marked by a steel-cutting ceremony on August 10, 2026 at Song Thu Corporation’s shipyard in Da Nang. The multipurpose anti-submarine warfare vessel will carry an AESA radar and domestically developed missiles from Viettel and affiliated defense factories.
At a Glance
- Ceremony held August 10, 2026 at Song Thu Corporation’s shipyard, Da Nang
- Attended by officials from Vietnam’s Ministry of National Defence, the Communist Party and the Vietnam People’s Navy
- Ship class: indigenously designed, multipurpose anti-submarine warfare (ASW) frigate
- Sensors: active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar
- Armament: air defense missiles and anti-ship missiles developed domestically by Viettel and associated defense factories
- Billed as Vietnam’s largest and most modern domestically built warship to date
- Completion targeted in roughly 36 months (around 2029)
Background: Vietnam’s Naval-Industrial Push
The steel-cutting ceremony held Monday, August 10, 2026 at Song Thu Corporation’s shipyard in Da Nang marked the physical start of construction on a new type of multipurpose frigate for the Vietnam People’s Navy (VPN). The presence of officials from the Ministry of National Defence, the Communist Party and the VPN underlined the program’s priority status. Vietnamese state media described the vessel as the country’s largest and most modern warship built to date, framing the project as part of a broader strategy to build indigenous capability and showcase the country’s growing engineering skills.
Technically, the ship will be equipped with an active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar, air defense missiles, and advanced anti-ship missiles developed domestically by Viettel and associated defense factories. The multipurpose platform, focused on anti-submarine warfare, has not yet been named publicly, but is expected to be completed in roughly 36 months.
The program fits into Vietnam’s broader push in recent years to reduce dependence on foreign suppliers and build out its own design-and-build chain for warships. Song Thu Corporation, which has been involved in earlier VPN shipbuilding projects, is emerging as a central player in the country’s gradually expanding naval-industrial base.
Regional Impact
Vietnam’s move to begin building an indigenously designed, AESA-radar-equipped multipurpose frigate with domestic missiles marks a new stage in Southeast Asia’s naval modernization race. With Indonesia, the Philippines and Malaysia all accelerating their own fleet modernization programs, Vietnam’s investment in domestic design capability is widely read as an effort to build up national naval power amid continuing tensions in the South China Sea. For observers following Turkey’s own indigenization drive — most visibly through the MİLGEM corvette family — Vietnam’s experience offers a useful comparative case for how emerging navies transition toward national ship design, and is worth watching for potential cooperation openings for Turkish firms like STM and ASELSAN in the Southeast Asian market.
FAQ
Who is building the ship? Song Thu Corporation’s shipyard in Da Nang, on behalf of the Vietnam People’s Navy.
When will it be completed? Official statements point to roughly 36 months of construction, putting completion around 2029.
What systems will it carry? An AESA radar, air defense missiles, and domestically developed anti-ship missiles led by Viettel.
