Missile ship M5 prepares to launch.
On April 14, Ba Son Corporation successfully launched a pair of modern M5 and M6 missile ships after 30 months of construction.
M5 and M6 are the most modern, mobile and multi-purpose fast attack missile ships of the `Lightning` class (Molniya fast attack ship) technology transferred by Russia and completely self-built by Vietnam.
According to Global Security, the Molniya-class fast attack missile ship is one of the powerful warships that is considered technologically perfect and has the highest stability in the world by Russia’s Almaz Central Naval Design Institute.
Normally, export variants will have their weapons and electronic warfare systems replaced, but Vietnam’s pair of ships are equipped with completely original systems of the Russian navy.
With a full displacement of 490 tons and a draft depth of 2.56 m, the ship has very high seaworthiness, ensuring effective use of weapons on board when the waves are at level 5-8.
The train’s main propulsion system is the M-15E.1 gas turbine engine consisting of two turbine engines that can help the train run at a speed of 70 km/h under standard conditions.
The crew is fully staffed according to the design for the Russian navy, including 44 people, including 8 officers.
The operating time at sea is 10 days, the operating distance when running at patrol speed is from 3,000 to 4,400 km.
Missile ship M6 during the launching ceremony.
The ship is designed to perform many tasks independently or in formation such as destroying squads or groups of warships, landing craft, corvettes and other enemy fleets, protecting submarines.
Therefore, the ship is equipped with a powerful weapon system including 4 Uran-E missile launchers, each carrying 4 3M-23E (SS-N-25 Switchblade) subsonic anti-sea missiles.
In addition to the Uran-E missile system, the ship is also equipped with an AK-176M automatic gunboat with a caliber of 76.2 mm, used to destroy targets in the air and on the water (including dropped mines).
To protect itself against aerial attacks and torpedoes, the ship is equipped with two PK-10 style decoy launchers and one Igla low-altitude air-to-air missile launcher (12).
The ship’s electronic warfare system includes the Garpun-Bal target search radar (NATO designation Plank Shave) for the Uran-E missile system, installed at the top of the mast, which can track 15 targets
With high combat power and mobility, the pair of M5 and M6 ships are equipped for the Vietnam Navy to enhance combat power and firmly protect the sovereignty of the sea and islands of the Fatherland.
Olivia