A fourth submarine built by Russia for Vietnam was floated out of St Petersburg’s Verfi shipyard on March 28.

The HQ-185 Khanh Hoa has been manufactured as part of a contract for Russia to supply six Kilo-class submarines to Vietnam, signed during Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung’s official visit to the country in 2009.

The new submarines are expected to enhance the Vietnamese navy’s capabilities in defending national territorial waters.

The HQ-182 Hanoi and HQ-183 Ho Chi Minh City vessels have been handed over to Vietnam, and the country is scheduled to receive the third one, HQ-184 Hai Phong, later this year. The addition of HQ-185 Khanh Hoa to the fleet will be ready by 2015.-VNA