Rear Admiral Hoang Hong Ha, Deputy Chief Commander of the Vietnam People’s Navy, has confirmed that four Molniya rocket ships handed over from Ba Son Shipbuilding Corporation to the Navy have been working well.

Ba Son can master the technology of building fast-attack missile battleships and can now consider building larger and more modern ships, helping implement the task of protecting sovereignty in the sea and islands.

Binh said that Vietnam was now able to build large and modern battleships.

Binh said the ships to protect sovereignty, warships and destroyers don’t have a large size like aircraft carriers. And not only Ba Son, but other shipyards such as Song Thu, 189 Hai Phong and Hong Ha also have the capability to build battleships.

Ba Son can master the technology of building fast-attack missile battleships and can now consider building larger and more modern ships, helping implement the task of protecting sovereignty in the sea and islands.

“I cannot see any problems here. We can absolutely build large and modern battleships. What we need is good design,” Binh said.

Hoang Hung, a shipbuilding engineer, said as Ba Son can build rocket ships, troop ships, and the two Molnyia, as well as master high technology, it can build modern battleships.

Song Cam, Ha Long, Damen-Song Cam and Song Thu shipyards can all build fishery surveillance vessels, coast guard vessels and patrol ships for export to many countries, including Europe and the North Atlantic.

"This has been recognized by the world and I believe that building modern battleships is not too difficult for Vietnam," he said, adding that in some countries, battleships are built at civil factories, while the armament and ammunition are undertaken by factories belonging to ministries of national defense.

“Both military and civil ships have to meet requirements to go on the sea to withstand wind and waves. Battleships just need thicker steel,” he explained.

Binh from the Society for Science and Technology of Vietnam Shipbuilding Industry believes that the most important factor in building battleships is the workforce.

“The key is manpower. We are still weak at designing,” he said. “We still cannot see experienced chief engineers.”

“There are many different design stages, including basic design, theoretical design, registration design and building design. We are in the building design stage, which makes up 30 percent of the total design process,” he explained.

Hung believes that if Vietnam’s shipyards can be equipped, they will be able to build ships with more complicated functions.

Thanh Lich