BPS-500 missile boat
.jpg) HQ 381 | |
| History | |
|---|---|
 Vietnam | |
| Name | HQ 381 |
| Builder | Ba Son Shipyard |
| Launched | June 1998 |
| In service | 2001–present |
| Status | Active[1] |
| General characteristics | |
| Class & type | BPS-500 |
| Type | Guided-missile corvette[2] |
| Tonnage | 850 tons (full load)[2] |
| Length | 62 metres (203.4 ft)[3] |
| Beam | 11 metres (36.1 ft)[3] |
| Draught | 2.5 metres (8.2 ft)[3] |
| Propulsion | |
| Speed | 32 knots (59 km/h)[3] |
| Range | 2,200 nautical miles (4,100 km; 2,500 mi) at 14 knots (26 km/h)[3] |
| Complement | 28[3] |
| Sensors & processing systems | |
| Armament | |
HQ 381 is a Vietnam People's Navy guided-missile corvette[2] and the only example of the BPS-500 class. The ship was designed in Russia and the first missile boat produced in Vietnam.
Development
Vietnam began a program to modernize its military equipment in the mid-1990s following further territorial disputes in the South China Sea with China.[4] One aspect of the program was to develop domestic production and repair capability. Russia agreed to supply or co-produce small warships and missiles;[5] In 1996, Russia and Vietnam agreed to co-produce the BPS-500;[6] this may have been a part of or related to a cooperative military shipbuilding[7] or program called KBO-2000.[8]
BPS-500 was designed by the Severnoye Design Bureau.[3] Two were ordered[8] and Russia supplied two kits to the Ba Son Shipyard. HQ 381 was built with modular technology,[9] launched in June 1998 and became operational in late-2001;[3] it was the first missile boat produced in Vietnam.[5] No more were produced as the ship did not meet requirements[10] or more advanced ships became available.[11] The pump-jets raised construction and maintnenace costs and had poor performance at low speed. The hull had insufficient seakeeping for long-range operations. There may also have been software and control system problems.[9]
Severnoye was contracted to assist overhauling and upgrading the ship in 2013[7] and 2017.[12]
Description
BPS-500 is an improved Pauk-class corvette.[3] Angled surfaces reduce radar cross section. The pump-jets with directional nozzles have better maneuverability in shallow waters and generate less noise than propellers.[9]
References
- 1 2 The International Institute for Strategic Studies 2025, p. 309.
- 1 2 3 Arthur 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 Saunders 2015, p. 1004.
- ↑ Thayer 2016, p. 207.
- 1 2 Thayer 2016, p. 209.
- ↑ Thayer 2016, p. 208.
- 1 2 "Nga nâng cấp tàu tên lửa 'độc nhất' BPS-500 cho Việt Nam" [Russia upgrades the 'unique' BPS-500 missile ship for Vietnam]. Báo Đất Việt (in Vietnamese). 6 April 2014. Archived from the original on 5 May 2016.
- 1 2 Baker, A.D., III (March 1998). "World Navies in Review". Proceedings. Vol. 124, no. 8, Whole Number 1141. United States Naval Institute.
{{cite magazine}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - 1 2 3 "Vì sao Việt Nam nâng cấp tàu tên lửa BPS-500?" [Why did Vietnam upgrade the BPS-500 missile ship?]. VTC News. 15 April 2024. Archived from the original on 23 October 2014.
- ↑ Thayer 2018, p. 439.
- ↑ Thayer 2016, p. 217.
- ↑ "Tàu BPS-500 Việt Nam trang bị vũ khí mới sau nâng cấp". Nghệ An. 9 September 2017. Retrieved 21 January 2026.
Sources
- The International Institute for Strategic Studies (2025). The Military Balance 2025. London: Routledge. ISBN 978-1-041-04967-8.
- Saunders, Stephan, ed. (2015). Jane's Fighting Ships 2015-2016. Jane's Information Group. ISBN 978-0710631435.
- Thayer, Carlyle A. (August 2016). "Vietnam's Strategy of 'Cooperating and Struggling' with China over Maritime Disputes in the South China Sea". Journal of Asian Security and International Affairs. 3 (2). SAGE Publications: 200–220.
- Thayer, Carlyle A. (2018). "Force Modernization: Vietnam". In Singh, Daljit; Cook, Malcolm (eds.). Southeast Asian Affairs. Singapore: ISEAS Publishing. pp. 429–444. ISBN 978-981-4786-84-3.
- Arthur, Gordon (2026-08-13). "Vietnam Begins Construction on First Indigenous Multipurpose Frigate". Naval News. Retrieved 2026-08-13.