Vietnam is expected to continue with its defence modernization over the course of the decade, despite setbacks to its economy due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Vietnam’s annual defence expenditure of approximately USD 5 billion however, is likely to be insufficient...
To read the full article, please log in or enter your email below:
Vietnam is expected to continue with its defence modernization over the course of the decade, despite setbacks to its economy due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Vietnam’s annual defence expenditure of approximately USD 5 billion however, is likely to be insufficient to equip the nation’s armed forces for the modern battlefield with drones, advanced precision munitions and artillery, high-end fighter aircraft and unmanned ground vehicles (UGV).
Vietnam has growing ties with the USA, which lifted an arms embargo on weapons sales to the Southeast Asian nation in 2016. Vietnam’s coast guard patrols inside the country’s 200-mile EEZ. Vietnam also placed orders for Boeing Insitu ScanEagle Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) in 2019.
The Vietnam Air Defence Air Force (ADAF) is slated to induct Beechcraft T-6C Texan II trainer aircraft, which are being acquired to modernise its pilot training programme. The ADAF-USAF relationship will be a keystone of the defence partnership between both nations in the 2020s and a significant part of the U.S. strategy of helping Vietnam move away from dependence on Russian weapons and China’s influence. It will also contribute to the U.S strategy of building partnerships in the Indo-Pacific region.
The U.S. Air Force (USAF) will be helping in the delivery and introduction of the aircraft into operational duty. Deliveries of three aircraft are slated to commence in mid-2023. The ADAF is looking to establish a modern Undergraduate Pilot Training (UPT) Programme based on the USAF’s pilot training model. The overall requirement includes the trainer aircraft, a contractor logistics support package (CLS), a minimum two-year spare parts package, a ground support equipment (GSE) package, and program technical support.
Also included in the requirement is one full-fidelity, 360 degree out the window visual display system simulator, one computer-based training lab with 12 student stations, up to three years of on-site CLS for the training devices, familiarization training for the training devices, up to three years of spares for the training devices, and programme 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.
Vietnam will be the 14th nation to acquire the T-6C and the aircraft are being procured via a Foreign Military Sales (FMS) programme leveraging 2021 and 2022 Building Partnership Capacity funds. Vietnam is only the 2nd Southeast Asian customer for the T-6C, which has also been ordered by the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF). All Beechcraft T-6 Texan II aircraft are designed and manufactured at the company’s Wichita, Kansas facilities. The T-6C is exported as a military flight trainer, while the T-6C+ is an armed variant of the T-6C for export.
Textron Aviation Defence completed the delivery of the 1,000th T-6C Texan II in October along with achieving the five million flight hour milestone across the global T-6 fleet. The 1,000th T-6 military flight trainer was delivered to the Colombian Air Force. A fleet of five T-6C Texan II trainers equip Air Combat Command No. 1 (CACOM-1) with its initial slate of Beechcraft T-6C Texan II advanced military training aircraft at the Capitan Germán Olano Moreno Air Base in Palanquero, Colombia.
Vietnamese armed forces still retaining significant capability to defend the nation’s territory and interests in case of any conflict in the near term. According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), Vietnam has seen some of the largest increases in military expenditures in Southeast Asia. Between 2003 and 2018, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), the Southeast Asian nation’s military spending increased 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 five arms importers in the region in 2014-2018, according to SIPRI data. Vietnam was number twelve on SIPRI’s list of arms importers between 2010 and 2016.
Vietnam’s defence white paper issued in 2019 had reemphasized its long-standing policy of the “Three No’s”. Vietnam will not enter into defence alliances, will not allow foreign bases on Vietnamese territory, and no be dependent on any country to combat others. Interestingly, Vietnam follows the approach of no interoperability and no communications links with other militaries, however, this approach is likely to change in the years ahead.
HENSOLDT has entered into a partnership with TUM Venture Labs, an initiative led by the Technical University of Munich and…
Startical, a collaboration between ENAIRE and Indra, has launched its first satellite, IOD-1 (In-Orbit Demonstrator-1), as part of the Transporter-13…
Korean Air is set to improve its services with an upgrade to airport lounges and the introduction of Premium Economy…
Thales and Malaysia Airlines have entered into a long-term agreement for the provision of avionics component availability and repair services…
Rafael Advanced Defence Systems Ltd. and Elbit Systems Ltd. have secured a contract to provide an Integrated Maritime Electronic Warfare…
The Indonesian government has announced that GMF AeroAsia, a subsidiary of the national carrier Garuda Indonesia, will establish an aircraft…
JetBlu and its fuel partners marked the first-ever regular supply of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) for commercial air travel in…
Overwatch, a British aerospace and defence group specialising in unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), has entered into a collaboration agreement with…
AEGEAN, Greece's largest airline, has confirmed an order for eight more Airbus A321neo aircraft to bolster its network and support…
SATS Ltd. (SATS) and Vietnam Airlines JSC (VNA) have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to jointly build and…
The Air Astana Group reported significant growth in 2024, carrying nine million passengers across its two airline brands. This figure…
Airbus Helicopters concluded the VERTICON 2025 event in Dallas, United States, with 118 commitments, including 63 firm orders, for its…
The Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) has received four additional Fast Interceptor Craft (FIC) G2000 MKII vessels at the TLDM base…
Systems Engineering & Assessment (SEA) Ltd. has extended its contract with Lumut Naval Shipyard (LUNAS) to supply a fixed triple…
Archer Aviation and Palantir Technologies are partnering to build the artificial intelligence (AI) foundation for next-gen aviation technologies. The companies…
The French Army has selected Exail to conduct a Tactical Evaluation (EVTA) of advanced driving simulators. The initiative is led…
GDAT, one of China’s most prominent helicopter operators, has signed an HCare In-Service contract with Airbus to cover ten H225…
Eve Air Mobility (Eve) and South Korea’s UI Helicopter have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to support the development…
At Verticon 2025 in Dallas, Leonardo announced securing nearly 30 helicopter orders for the AW109 GrandNew, AW169, AW139, and AW189…
Effective from 13th March 2025, Air Astana Group is introducing stricter regulations on the transport of lithium batteries and battery-powered…
DSA and NATSEC Asia 2026 is poised to build on the achievements of the 2024 event, where the Ministry of…
AAR CORP. has secured a multi-year agreement to deliver nacelle maintenance, repair, and overhaul services for Cebu Pacific Air's A320…
Exail has partnered with Abu Dhabi Ship Building (ADSB), part of the EDGE Group, and the Technology Innovation Institute (TII)…
The New York State Police has placed an order for one Airbus H160 and three H145 helicopters, becoming the first…
Clarivate has released its 2025 Top 100 Global Innovators list, recognising organisations that are advancing technology research and innovation. Among…
Indra Group has introduced IndraMind, an intelligence system aimed at enhancing the automation of critical operations and improving multi-domain operational…
The UK’s National Police Air Service (NPAS) has placed an order for seven Airbus H135 helicopters as part of the…
Metro Aviation has signed an agreement with Airbus Helicopters for up to 36 H140 helicopters to be used in emergency…
Aircraft leasing company Jackson Square Aviation (JSA) has placed an order for 50 Airbus A320neo Family aircraft. This marks JSA’s…
Global Medical Response (GMR) has signed an agreement with Airbus Helicopters for up to 15 H140 helicopters for emergency medical…
Headquartered in Singapore with reporters spread across all major regions, GBP Aerospace & Defence is a leading media house that publishes three publications that serve the aerospace and defence sector - Asian Defence Technology, Asian Airlines & Aerospace and Daily News. Known industry-wide for quality journalism, GBP Aerospace & Defence is present at more international tradeshows and exhibitions than any other competing publication in the region.
For over three decades, our award-winning team of reporters has been producing top-notch content to help readers stay abreast of the latest developements in the field of commercial aviation, MRO, defence, and Space.
Copyright 2024. GBP. All Rights Reserved.
Home Defence & Security Space Commercial Aviation Maintence Repair & Overhaul Daily News Events About Us
2025 GBP all rights reserved.