Vietnam Navy organized a ceremony to hand over the Russia-built HQ-182 Hanoi submarine to the 189 Submarine Brigade in Cam Ranh military port in the southern province of Khanh Hoa on Wednesday.

The ceremony was chaired by Deputy Defense Minister, Admiral Nguyen Van Hien. It was also attended by Rear Admiral Pham Ngoc Minh, Chief of Staff of the Navy Service and other navy forces.

Handing over the submarine to the 189 Submarine Brigade is considered an important first step in the process of building and developing modern submarines for the Vietnam Navy Force.

Addressing the event, Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Van Quan, captain of HQ-182 Hanoi submarine, said: “Every staff and soldier on board the submarine will practice hard and improve skills in order to master the submarine to deserve our tradition of solidarity, discipline, secret, and determination to win.”

Hanoi HQ 182 is the first of six Kilo-class submarines that Vietnam contracted to buy from Russia when Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung visited the country in 2009.

The Kilo HQ-182 Hanoi submarine was built in Admiralty Verfi Shipyards in St. Petersburg and had been tested near Svetlyi port in Kaliningrad.

The submarines, which have successfully undergone more than 20 test dives, have a displacement of 3,000-3,950 tons each, can operate at a maximum depth of 300 meters and at a range of 6,000-7,500 nautical miles for 45 days and nights, and carry a crew of 52.

It is believed that the submarines, with the quietest engine in the world, are the best choice for reconnaissance and patrols.