Following the upgrade program that was launched in 2017, the modernized T-54B (also known as T-54M) tanks of Vietnamese People's Army (VPA) are now starting to be delivered to combat units. The 409th Tank Brigade will receive 31 modernized tanks this year. The upgrade program was aimed to improve the combat capability and survivability of the old T-54B tanks that have been used by the Vietnamese People's Army (VPA) since the Vietnam war. As many as 850 units are still in use today. It is known that the upgrades carried by “Factory Z153” facility include adding add-on armor, night vision equipment and replacing the old fire control system with a more advanced one. There are reports that the additional weight from the upgrades may also necessitate an engine upgrade. The newly upgraded T-54M tanks still use the original D-10T2S 100 mm cannons despite earlier suggestions that they will be replaced with US-made M68 105 mm ones. Even though the guns are unchanged, Factory Z153 has also added new barrel insulation to increase the guns’ reliability. Although the exact number of tanks that will be upgraded is still unknown, it seems unlikely that all of the T-54B tanks in VPA’’s inventory will be upgraded to T-54M standard. Aside from T-54Bs, PAVN is also operating T-62 and T-90 tanks from Russia as well as Chinese-made Type-59 and Type-62 tanks. The T-54/55 series tanks are the first generation main battle tank from the Soviet Union that were produced between 1946 to 1983. With an estimated total production number of up to 100.000 units, the T-54/55 is also the world’s most-produced tank and still remains in active service in many of the world’s armed forces.
As part of the Italy-Saudi Arabia institutional round table, ELT Group has signed Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) with SAMI Advanced…
Leonardo, Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Investment (MISA), and General Authority for Military Industries (GAMI) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding…
Airbus delivered 766 commercial aircraft to 86 customers around the world in 2024. The commercial aircraft business registered 878 gross…
The Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) has concluded the Service Life Extension Programme (SLEP) for its fleet of Sukhoi Su-30MKM…
Kongsberg Maritime has secured a contract to deliver propulsion and manoeuvring systems for two new KCR-70 Fast Attack Craft (FAC)…
Representatives from KNDS Deutschland, KNDS France, Rheinmetall Landsysteme, and Thales gathered in Paris to formalise the creation of the "MGCS…
ST Engineering's Commercial Aerospace business has signed a five-year CFM LEAP engine maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) contract with new…
Embraer is working with Florida Power & Light Company (FPL) to expand the use of renewable energy at its U.S.…
The use of the combat-proven Rafael Spyder air defence system in the ongoing war in Israel has created interest in…
The delivery of Elbit Systems PULS artillery systems and the company's Hermes -900 UAV to Serbia is expected to begin…
Indonesian private defence firm PT Sentra Surya Ekajaya (PT SSE) has introduced a new version of its P2 Tiger 4×4…
Schiebel has been awarded a new multi-year contract by the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) to provide services using the…
BlackSky Technology Inc. has shipped its first Gen-3 satellite to launch provider Rocket Lab. The satellite is scheduled to be…
SITA and Cathay Pacific have entered a new agreement aimed at significantly boosting network bandwidth at Cathay Pacific’s airports. The…
Lockheed Martin has been awarded a $270 million contract by the U.S. Air Force to integrate next-generation infrared defensive sensors…
Malaysia Airlines, in collaboration with Mercedes-Benz Malaysia (MBM), has launched a Private Terminal Transfer Service aimed at providing seamless and…
Fly Jaya, a new entrant in Indonesia’s aviation industry operated by PT Surya Mataram Nusantara, is set to launch domestic…
The first Austrian Airlines Boeing 777-200ER equipped with AeroSHARK surface technology has successfully completed its maiden flight. The long-haul aircraft…
Vietnam and South Korea are reportedly finalising an agreement for the acquisition of 20 K-9 Thunder self-propelled howitzers (SPH) for…
The Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) is anticipating the final delivery of three AT-6TH Wolverine light attack aircraft by April…
Ukraine's largest airline, SkyUp Airlines, has successfully transitioned to IBS Software's iFly Res Passenger Services System (PSS) to support the…
Experia Events has announced the confirmed exhibitors for the inaugural Business Aviation Asia Forum and Expo (BAAFEx), which will take…
Aonic, a Malaysian drone service provider and manufacturer, has been awarded the Unmanned Aerial Work Certificate (UAWC) by the Civil…
Eve Air Mobility (Eve) has partnered with JetSetGo, a private aircraft charter and fractional ownership company based in New Delhi,…
L3Harris Technologies has received a contract from BAE Systems Maritime Australia for the Integrated Platform Management System (IPMS) on the…
In a response to numerous instances of Global Positioning System (GPS) denial in the war that broke out on Oct.…
Airbus Defence and Space, in collaboration with HENSOLDT, is upgrading the German Airborne Weapon Systems Electronic Warfare Centre with the…
Qantas Airways Limited has officially become a member of the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA), as announced by the…
Indra Group’s Board of Directors has appointed Ángel Escribano Ruiz as its new Executive Chairman. This decision was made during…
The first Airbus A400M aircraft for the Indonesian Air Force (TNI-AU) has entered the Final Assembly Line in Seville, Spain.…
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.