Since the Vietnam War, most of Vietnamese vessels were supplied by the Soviet Union and presently by Russia, while hundreds more were integrated into the navy after it was left over from South Vietnam although many have been decommissioned due to lack of parts. However, due to rising tensions in the South China Sea, many nearby nations such as Japan have shown support in developing Vietnam's Navy and Coast Guard.[1]
The Vietnam People's Navy is the branch of the Vietnam People's Army with the fastest modernization as the Vietnamese government put it as a main priority, with constant improvement to its weapons, munitions and combat capability.
015 and 016 are equipped with anti-submarine capability while 011 and 012 are not. Two more frigates are planned, but the contract may have failed due to the Russo-Ukrainian war.[3]
Efforts made to be able to domestically produce AK-176 naval gun and AK-630CIWS.
Heavily modernized with rebuilt stealthysuperstructure and new combat suites. Electrical and mechanical systems were upgraded with modern and easily available components. Communication, radar, electronic, sensor, and bridge systems were upgraded.[5][6]
Three ASW frigate while two converted to gunboats.
ASW corvettes transferred from South Korea.[11] Has been extensively overhauled domestically.
Installed domestically produced KT-184 quad-launchers. The launcher is made to launch the Kh-35 Uran missile. May have been removed according to recent info.
6 built locally in Ba Son Shipyard under license. Vietnam is looking to build another 4 Molniya corvettes to complete phase two of this project, but contract may have failed due to the Russo-Ukrainian war.
Domestically manufactured. 3 ships were produced by Song Thu shipyard for the Venezuelan government but were not delivered due to payment problems. The ships were repurchased from Venezuela's order. Another ship was ordered and transferred to the Vietnamese Navy.[16]
Equipped with Deep-submergence rescue vehicle,[22] Remotely operated under water vehicle, and 2 small-size speed boats. Has a decompression chamber and enhanced on-board medical facilities.
Two more similar ships were designed by Damen built by Z189 Shipyard, MV Stoker and MV Besant. These ships are slightly smaller and lighter.
Serve in frigates and patrol vessels around Spratly Islands.
8 Ka-28 for Anti-submarine. Serve in frigates and patrol vessels around Spratly Islands.
All Ka-28 helicopters received major overhaul from Ukraine in Crimea in 2014. Chassis was replaced, older electronics were swapped for newer versions, LCD screens were implemented, included software to be capable of operating newer weapon systems, etc.[26]
Tricopter drone that's made with easily available commercial component. It's mainly used for firefighting as it's loadout is composed of two fire suppression rockets. Weighs 16 kg and can carry up to 5 kg of explosives. Demonstration shows dropping air burst bomb.
Made at Factory Z113, which is known for making firefighting equipment. Factory also makes portable MRLS for putting out fires. Has built-in camera, laser rangefinder.
2D radars are much cheaper and easier to build than 3D radars, but are less capable. Compared to 3D radars, the VRS-M2D-1 and its similar counterparts have lacking ECCM abilities but still possess ECCM.[35]
Detect targets flying at low altitude and medium range. Produced and developed by Viettel.
Based on KAMAZ-6560 8×8 truck chassis. Has range of 180 km. Used for tracking naval and low ariel targets. Designed to precisely locate and predict future moments. Cooperates well with other systems due to standard data link. Produced and developed by Viettel.
Based off of the Soviet Union's P19 radar. Works proficiently in low altitude and used to control/track airspace. Works in semi or automatic mode. Produced and developed by Viettel.
Based on KAMAZ-6560 8×8 truck chassis. Weighs nearly 40 tons. Has hydraulic mast. Ready to operate within 25 minutes of arriving.
Only one radar needed to operate costal defense system but using another radar increases range. Used for tracking naval targets and transfers data of azimuth, range, speed, and direction to C4SIR system. Operates continuously and has inherit ECM. Produced and developed by Viettel.
Special Purpose Radar
V-Elint 18 Passive Radar
Intelligent Ultra-high Frequency Electronic Reconnaissance System
Used for detecting air, sea, and land targets without having location compromised. Has range of hundreds of kilometer and capable of observing stealth.
System includes 1 central receiving and processing system and 3 peripheral receiving station. Produced and developed by Viettel.
Missile can be launched from coastal defense complex. The complex includes launcher, radar, command & control center, etc.
Reverse engineered variant of the Kh-35U. Launched from the VCM-B coastal defense missile system. Domestically manufactured by Viettel Aerospace (VTX).[41][42]
Engine is domestically produced. Designated as VJE-01 turbojet engine. Nominal thrust of 500 kgf.
The homing seeker, VASK-03, utilizes Ku-band frequency, slotted-array tech, seeking range of 20 km, ECM abilities, and software can be updated.
Missile is less than 5,000 mm in length, body diameter of 315 mm, and weighs under 600 kg.[43]
Finished negotiation for technological transferring program. Used with the K-300P Bastion-P coastal missile systems. Two K-300P Bastion-P systems in active.
Limited use with Special Forces, Border Guards, and the Navy. They are gradually replacing older helmets in all branches of the Army. Most helmets are a Vietnamese-made version of the PASGT Helmet. Earlier models were imported from Israel.[48][49]
Traditional standard issue hard hat, used as the army's utility and barracks cover. Commonly worn by enlisted members with their dress uniforms and during light training.
Standard issue soft cover, consisting of a four-point front panel and an elastic backstrap. The cap's camouflage print is worn matching with field fatigues during patrols.
Limited use in the army and police, they are being manufactured to slowly replace the K54 and K14VN pistols. Manufactured locally at the Z111 Factory.[66][67][68]
Standard issue service pistol (K14NV) used alongside the K54. This model is equipped with a longer barrel, and a double-stack magazine that holds an increased capacity of 13 rounds.[70][71] Manufactured locally at the Z111 Factory.
Standard issue service pistol. Manufactured locally as the K54 (from the Type 54 Chinese TT-33 copy), now being phased out by the new domestic K14.
SN7M, SN7TD, and SN7N are all modernized versions of the TT pistols. The SN7M is a basic modernization, SN7TD24 has an integrated silencer, and SN7N has an intrinsic sight.
Standard issue rifle. The STV-215 is the carbine version of the STV-380, it has a barrel length of 215 mm.[72][73] Developed and manufactured at the Z111 Factory. STV-380 muzzle can now be tweaked with various attachments. Can be equipped with indigenous KBN-M1 Red-dot sight.
STV-410 and STV-416 were the disconnected variants.
Standard issue rifle. Still being refurbished, old models are being converted to domestic AKM-1/AKn plasticized refurbishment. Succeeded and replaced as the standard-issue rifle by the STV-215/STV-380.[74][75] Manufactured locally with some new detail.[76]
STrL-5.56 is the exact domestic copy. Uses PKM handle.
Domestic copy is designated as STrL-7.62, chambered in 7.62x39mm. Has foldable stock, PKM handle, 1913 picatinny rail, and fluted barrel that can quickly be swapped.
Has domestic production/refurbishment line at Factory X70. Practically every component is replaced with it's local counterpart/copy. Notable mentions include FCS, laser range finder, thermals, optics, radios, track links, and a turbocharged engine.
The plan to include laser range finder and thermal could of likely been a prototype plan that was abandoned in 2022.
The D-44 may be put into reserves soon as the ammunition it uses is unconventional and not standardized. The production of this ammo type will cease in the future and so will the service of the D-44.
The PTH85D44-VN18 is a mobile artillery unit that contains a D-44 artillery gun mounted on a Ural-375 6x6 truck. This may just be a prototype that never went into full production.
While the current number in service is unclear, the Soviet Union provided 50 pieces of the D-30 in 1974.[91] Some may have been taken out of service over the years.
The PTH122 is domestic self-propelled artillery prototype.
While the current number in service is unclear, the Soviet Union provided 519 pieces of the M-46 from 1968 - 1973.[91] Some were most likely lost in combat or taken out of service over the years.
The PTH130-K225B is domestic self-propelled artillery prototype.
While the current number in service is unclear, the Soviet Union provided 500 pieces of the D-20 from 1966 - 1970.[91] Some were most likely lost in combat or taken out of service over the years.
This section will include weapons that are in the planning, development, or testing phase. It's important to note that not all the weapons in this particular section will progress to the point of being procured. To avoid confusion, existing weapon systems that are being modified or upgraded should have their progress recorded in the notes section and not moved to the development section.
Operational features: Carry long range weaponry, high-precision weapons, and reconnaissance equipment
Procurement
As the Vietnam People's Navy is responsible for protecting the nation's sovereignty and economic activities at sea, as well to repulse unauthorized foreign vessels intruding into Vietnamese waters, Vietnam's policy has considered the modernization of the Navy a priority task in the overall military modernization plan. As stated on 5 August 2011 by Minister of DefencePhùng Quang Thanh:
The direction of building up the armed forces is one to follow the revolutionary spirit, regularisation and effectiveness and gradual modernisation. Within this context, the Navy, the Air Force, the Signal Corps and Electronic Warfare will proceed directly into modernisation to protect the country.[99]
Frigates and corvettes: Two Gepard-class frigates were laid down in 2011 by the Zelenodolsk shipyard in Russia, named 011 Dinh Tien Hoang and 012 Lý Thái Tổ, and two more were ordered. A contract was made in 2011 with Schelde Naval Shipbuilding in the Netherlands to build two Sigma-class corvettes in the Netherlands and two more in Vietnam.[100] The Vietnam People's Navy has itself built six Tarantul-class corvettes (Molniya class) with Russian supervision and has designed and built the first warships of the TT-400TP gunboat class.[101] Vietnam also purchased two Pohang-class corvettes were purchased from South Korea, one in 2017 and one in 2018. Additionally, India donated one Khukri-class corvette in 2023.[102]
Submarines: Vietnam deployed its first submarine flotilla, Flotilla 182, on 1 June 1982. This flotilla was trained in Cam Ranh Bay under the guidance of Soviet submarine officers and used North Korea's Yugo-class submarine. In April 2011, Vietnam ordered six Kilo-class submarines worth about 1.8 billion dollars, said to be the entire defence budget of Vietnam in 2009. With six submarines, the first to be delivered in 2012 and the last one to be delivered by 2016.[103]
Offshore patrol vessel: When Vietnamese Prime MinisterNguyễn Tấn Dũng visited India in October 2014 it was announced that India will supply 4 naval vessels to Vietnam, and quickly operationalise a $100 million line of credit which will allow Vietnam to purchase new vessels from India.[104]
Naval air force: The Vietnam People's Navy prepared to build the Naval Air Force to increase the capacity of coastal defence. On 27 February 2010, the Vietnamese People's Army General Staff decided to build and make the 954th Naval Air Force Regiment a regular member of the Vietnamese Navy. Vietnam has purchased three CASA C-212 Aviocar Series 400 aircraft. The aircraft are equipped with MSS 6000 radar and the Naval Air Force will use them for general patrol purposes. Vietnamese Navy received two Eurocopter EC225 Super Puma to offshore patrol and search and rescue missions.[105] Viking Air Company of Canada contracted to sell to Vietnam six Seaplane DHC-6 Twin Otter Series 400 aircraft from 2012 to 2014. While eight Kamov Ka-28 helicopters also transferred to the naval air force.[106]
Coastal defence missile force: Vietnam People's Navy is building a coastal defence missile force (the 679th Coastal Missile Regiment) to become a core force in its maritime security strategy, with Russian and Indian missile systems. The Vietnamese Navy has already produced for itself the P-5 Pyatyorka/Shaddock anti-ship missile, with a range of 550 km. Vietnam was the only customer to which the Soviet Union exported this missile system. The then Russia delivered two K-300P Bastion-P coastal defence systems to Vietnam. The Bastion system uses the P-800 Oniks/Yakhont supersonic anti-ship missile, primarily used to attack targets on land and sea, has an attack range of 300 km, and can be used to protect a coastline of over 600 km.[107] During a 2014 visit of Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyễn Tấn Dũng to India, the Indian government under Prime MinisterNarendra Modi showed willingness to sell their BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles developed by the Russia-India joint venture BrahMos Aerospace Private Limited to Vietnam.[108] The Vietnamese are now starting to locally produce the anti-ship missile Kh-35 Uran-E after receiving 33 missiles in 2010.
^View the annual editions of Jane's Vessel Fighting since 1976 to keep track of the status of PRVSN Phạm Ngũ Lão (HQ-01) in the Vietnam People's Navy as it is best understood in the West.