Page 18 - ADT NOVEMBER - DECEMBER 2022 Online Magazine

 VIETNAM DEFENCE 2022 SHOW PREVIEW
Also included in the requirement is one full-fi-
delity, 360 degree out the window visual display © Textron Aviation Defence
system simulator, one computer-based training
lab with 12 student stations, up to three years of
on-site CLS for the training devices, familiariza-
tion training for the training devices, up to three
years of spares for the training devices, and pro-
gramme support. The VDAF’s T-6C’s will be able
to utilize external fuel tanks for extended range
training operations over water and at extended
geographic distances covering the length of the
Vietnamese coast-line.

Battle Tanks (MBT) in 2018 and in 2019 entered into a USD 350 million
Vietnam will be the 14th nation to acquire the deal for Yak-130 advanced jet trainers (AJT). The ADAF operates
T-6C and the aircraft are being procured via a an estimated 35 Su-30MK2Vs. Vietnam acquired two batteries of
Foreign Military Sales (FMS) programme leverag- K-300P Bastion coastal missile systems in 2011, followed by two
ing 2021 and 2022 Building Partnership Capacity batteries of S-300 PMU-2 long-range surface-to-air missile systems
funds. Vietnam is only the 2 Southeast Asian in 2012. It has also upgraded its short-range surface-to-air missile
nd
customer for the T-6C, which has also been systems and radar surveillance systems.
ordered by the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF).
All Beechcraft T-6 Texan II aircraft are designed
and manufactured at the company’s Wichita, INCREASING THE DEFENCE SPEND
Kansas facilities. The T-6C is exported as a mil-
itary flight trainer, while the T-6C+ is an armed Vietnam has a 2,000-mile coastline facing the East Sea (South China
variant of the T-6C for export. Sea) and the Government has prioritised the modernisation of its
maritime defence capability, issuing a detailed maritime strategy in
Textron Aviation Defence completed the deliv- 2011. The USA has provided Vietnam with two US Coast Guard cut-
ery of the 1,000th T-6C Texan II in October ters, which are used mainly near their bases in the southern region,
along with achieving the five million flight hour to protect Vietnamese fisheries.
milestone across the global T-6 fleet. The
1,000th T-6 military flight trainer was deliv- According to a report published by ‘The International Institute for
ered to the Colombian Air Force. A fleet of Strategic Studies’ (IISS), Vietnam’s military spending grew at an
average of nearly 8.7 per cent between 2018-2020. Though defence
five T-6C Texan II trainers equip Air Combat spending in the maritime domain has improved, Vietnam’s navy
Command No. 1 (CACOM-1) with its initial slate and air force need to be further strengthened to defend against
of Beechcraft T-6C Texan II advanced military emerging maritime threats from submarines, swarm drones, long-
training aircraft at the Capitan Germán Olano range aircraft, etc.
Moreno Air Base in Palanquero, Colombia.
The sustained growth in its defence spending has resulted in the
OLD PARTNERSHIP Vietnamese armed forces still retaining significant capability to
defend the nation’s territory and interests in case of any conflict in the
Nearly 80 per cent of the equipment oper- near term. According to the Stockholm International Peace Research
ated by the Vietnamese defence forces are of Institute (SIPRI), Vietnam has seen some of the largest increases in
Russian origin, and the performance of much of military expenditures in Southeast Asia. Between 2003 and 2018,
this equipment in Russia’s ongoing battle with according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute
Ukraine will be studied closely by Vietnam’s (SIPRI), the Southeast Asian nation’s military spending increased
military, which yet relies heavily on Soviet era nearly seven fold, from USD 841 million in 2003 to USD 5.5 billion in
2018. India, Australia, PRC, South Korea and Vietnam were the top
defence equipment. As a result, Russia is likely to five arms importers in the region in 2014-2018, according to SIPRI
remain a key defence ally in the years to come data. Vietnam was number twelve on SIPRI’s list of arms importers
as Vietnam will require its assistance to support between 2010 and 2016.
its defence equipment.
Vietnam’s defence white paper issued in 2019 had reemphasized
Russia and Vietnam entered into a its long-standing policy of the “Three No’s”. Vietnam will not enter
‘Comprehensive Strategic Partnership’ in August into defence alliances, will not allow foreign bases on Vietnamese
2013, the provision, which was mainly aimed territory, and no be dependent on any country to combat others.
at enabling the maintenance and upkeep of Interestingly, Vietnam follows the approach of no interoperability
Russian defence equipment in Vietnam. and no communications links with other militaries, however, this
Vietnam inducted Russian made T-90S/SK Main approach is likely to change in the years ahead.

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