Page 17 - ADT NOVEMBER - DECEMBER 2022 Online Magazine

8-10 DECEMBER 2022

GLOBAL BUSINESS PRESS WWW.GBP.COM.SG

CHANGE OF DIRECTION
CHANGE OF DIREC TION

VIETNAM IS GROWING The Vietnam Air Defence Air Force (ADAF) is
slated to induct Beechcraft T-6C Texan II trainer
ITS DEFENCE PARTNERSHIP aircraft, which are being acquired to modernise
WITH THE USA its pilot training programme. The ADAF-USAF
relationship will be a keystone of the defence
partnership between both nations in the 2020s
 ATUL CHANDRA and a significant part of the U.S. strategy of
helping Vietnam move away from dependence
Vietnam is expected to continue with its defence modernisation on Russian weapons and China’s influence. It will
over the course of the decade, despite setbacks to its economy due also contribute to the U.S strategy of building
to the COVID-19 pandemic. Vietnam’s annual defence expenditure partnerships in the Indo-Pacific region.
of approximately USD 5 billion however, is likely to be insufficient
to equip the nation’s armed forces for the modern battlefield with The U.S. Air Force (USAF) will be helping in the
drones, advanced precision munitions and artillery, high-end fighter delivery, and operationalization of the aircraft.
aircraft and unmanned ground vehicles (UGV). Deliveries of three aircraft are slated to com-
mence in mid-2023. The ADAF is looking to
GROWING PARTNERSHIP establish a modern Undergraduate Pilot Training
(UPT) Programme based on the USAF’s pilot
Vietnam also has growing ties with the USA, which lifted an arms training model. The overall requirement includes
embargo on weapons sales to the Southeast Asian nation in 2016. the trainer aircraft, a contractor logistics support
Vietnam’s coast guard patrols inside the country’s 200-mile EEZ. package (CLS), a minimum two-year spare parts
Vietnam also placed orders for Boeing Insitu ScanEagle Unmanned package, a ground support equipment (GSE)
Aerial Vehicles (UAV) in 2019. package, and programme technical support.
ASIAN DEFENCE TECHNOLOGY NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2022 | 17