Vietnamese Pohang Flight III ship upgraded with KH-35 Uran-E missile.

The Vietnamese Pohang Flight III-class submarine guard installed their own versions of the Russian 3K24E, the Uran-E anti-ship missile on a Pohang type corvette (former RCC 765 Yeosu ) received at the end of 2018 as military aid from the South Korean Navy.

The Vietnamese Pohang Flight III-class submarine guard (Picture source: Wikipedia)

According to BPMD, Vietnam became the second country in the Asia-Pacific region to develop its own missile based on the Russian 3M24 Uranus (NATO designation SS-N-25 Switchblade). The first such country was North Korea, which previously showed images of a missile that looked very much like a Russian medium-range anti-ship missile.

The Vietnamese version is designated KCT 15 and is the result of technology transfer from Russia. The nature of the program is still unclear: it remains to be seen whether Vietnam will organize full-cycle production, or whether it is only an assembly from Russian components. Hanoi and Moscow began discussions on the local “production” of 3M24 missiles in 2011-2012.

The Vietnamese KCT 15 rocket was first shown to the public at the end of 2015 as part of an exposition that also showed an air defence radar. A twin launcher for ships was introduced next to the rocket. The missile was developed at the Zvezda-Strela State Research and Production Center, on the basis of which the Tactical Missile Weapons Corporation (KTRV) was formed.

Pohang-class guard vessels are medium-sized with a length of 88.3 m, the width of 10 m; draft of 2.9 m; the amount of water expansion fully 1,300 tons. CODOG engine (combined diesel and gas turbine) allows the ship to run with a maximum speed of 32 knots, cruising speed of 15 knots, a range of 4,000 nautical miles (7,400 km), the crew of 95 people.

The weapons fitted to the Plight Flight III class of the Pohang class include two 76.2 mm Oto Melara Compact cannons with a barrel that is 62 times longer than the diameter (76 mm / 62). In addition, the ship also has two 40 mm / 70 double-barrel quick-firing Dardo artillery platforms, in addition to supporting the 76 mm gun in destroying small targets.

For electronic systems, the ship is equipped with Marconi ST-1810 surface reconnaissance radar, ST-1802 fire control system, Radamec 2400 optical sights with built-in sonar. Signaal PHS-32.