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BPS-500-class missile boat

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BPS-500-class missile boat
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BPS-500 is a missile boat in service with the Vietnam People's Navy. It was the only missile boat built under the project KBO 2000 where Vietnam started to domestically build this class in the late 1990s. KBO 2000 is a joint project between the Russia and Vietnam in order to build missile boats in Vietnam. Russia which is represented by Severnoye Project Design Bureau (SPKB) is involved in the design scheme of missile boats of the BPS-500 class as required by the Vietnam Navy.[4][5]

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The sole BPS-500 missile ship was part of Project KBO 2000, jointly designed and manufactured by Vietnam and Russia.

KBO 2000 was a military shipbuilding cooperation project between Russia and Vietnam, with Russia represented by the Northern Design Bureau (SPKB). SPKB participated in designing the BPS-500 missile corvette according to the requirements of the Vietnam People's Navy.

The first BPS-500 missile ship was built at a shipyard in Ho Chi Minh City (Ba Son Shipyard) with technical assistance and equipment, spare parts supplied by Russia. According to a Jane’s article published in March 1999, the BPS-500 was already completed, launched, and undergoing sea trials at that time.[6]

The ship was built using modern modular technology with angled surfaces to increase radar scattering capability. A special feature is the use of pump-jet propulsion instead of traditional propellers, which offers better maneuverability in shallow waters, enhanced agility through directional nozzles, and significantly reduced noise compared to conventional propellers.[7]

However, after completing the first BPS-500 ship, Vietnam halted the program. Some foreign media sources cited the ship’s outdated design, inability to meet Vietnam’s evolving requirements, or inferiority to Project 1241.8 Molniya class ships as reasons for the project's cancellation.

One major issue was the propulsion system. The pump-jet mechanism led to higher construction costs, complexity in manufacturing, unstable operation, and poor performance at low speed (best suited for high speed). The ship’s hull design was also criticized for poor seaworthiness, making it unsuitable for operations in distant seas.[8]

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According to a contract with Rosoboronexport, in 2013, Russia’s Northern Design Bureau began providing technical support for the overhaul and upgrade of the sole BPS-500 missile patrol ship (Ship 381) for the Vietnam People's Navy. This was confirmed in the company's 2013 financial report.[9]


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