Armée Populaire Vietnamienne/Vietnam People's Army (VPA)

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Citation :

MAKS-2009: la Russie livrera huit chasseurs Su-30MK2 au Vietnam en 2010

16:54 | 19/ 08/ 2009

MOSCOU, 19 août
La Russie livrera huit chasseurs Su-30MK2 au Vietnam en 2010, a annoncé mercredi le directeur général adjoint de l'agence russe d'exportation d'armes "Rosoboronexport" Alexandre Mikheïev au Salon aérospatial international MAKS-2009 à Joukovski, dans la région de Moscou.

"Un contrat sur la livraison d'avions Su-30MK2 a été signé en janvier dernier, nous le réaliseront en 2009-2010", a indiqué M.Mikheïev.

Le chasseur biplace polyvalent Su-30MK2 est une version modifiée du Su-27 destiné à détruire des cibles volantes, terrestres et maritimes, à effectuer des missions de reconnaissance et à former des personnels navigants.

Source :: Novosti

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Second Russian-built Kilo-class sub arrives in Vietnam



The HQ-183 Ho Chi Minh City submarine, the second of six Kilo-class submarines Vietnam has contracted to buy from Russia, entered Cam Ranh Bay in the central province of Khanh Hoa aboard a Dutch heavy lift on Wednesday evening.

>> Kilo-class submarine transferred to Vietnam brigade

The submarine will be towed into the Cam Ranh military port after customs and security procedures are completed, which is expected to take two days.

It is now on board the Rolldock Star, the heavy lift that left Kaliningrad’s Yantar shipyard in Russia on February 3, which is anchored in the bay in front of the Hoi cape.

This is the second of the six Kilo-class submarines Vietnam is purchasing from Russia under a contract signed in 2009.

The fist submarine, HQ-182 Hanoi, was transported to Cam Ranh on December 31, 2013.

Vietnam and Russia signed a document at Admiralty Verfi Shipyard on January 16 to confirm that the vessel had successfully passed its technical tests.

The submarine has a load of 2,300 tons and can carry a crew of 57. It can operate at a maximum depth of 300 meters at a range of 6,000-7,500 nautical miles for 45 days and nights.

The vessel is armed with a Klub-S cruise missile system with 3M-54E1 missiles bearing 450-kg warheads that have a firing range of 220 km.

It also has a system of eight Strela-3 anti-aircraft missiles with a firing range of 6 km, six torpedo tubes, and other advanced military equipment.

The flag-raising ceremony for both the first and second submarines is scheduled to take place at the Cam Ranh military port on April 4 of this year.

The third vessel, named HQ-184 Hai Phong, is expected to be delivered to Vietnam this November, and the three remaining vessels will be handed over to the Southeast Asian nation in 2015 and 2016.

http://tuoitrenews.vn

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Vietnamese Coast Guard to acquire naval helicopters for OPVs

The Vietnamese Coast Guard (Canh Sat Bien Vietnam - CSBV) is looking to acquire new naval helicopters for its DN 2000 (Damen 9014-class) offshore patrol vessels (OPVs). The acquisition plan was revealed by Major Nguyen Khac Vuot, the CSBV's deputy director for the International Relations Division, at the OPV Asia Pacific 2014 conference on 18 March.

"The acquisition of the helicopters will be part of Vietnam's effort to integrate aerial surveillance as a part of the coastguard's patrols," said Maj Nguyen. "This will significantly enhance our maritime operations."

The CSBV currently operates one Damen DN 2000 OPV with pennant number 8001. The 90 m vessel is powered by four Caterpillar C3516C engines and can attain a top speed of 21 kt. It has a range of 5,000 n miles and a flight deck that will support helicopters with an all-up weight of 14 tons.

The 8001 is the first of four helicopter-capable OPVs ordered from the state-owned Z189 shipyard built to Netherlands-based Damen Shipyard's design. The rest are currently in various stages of construction and all four vessels will be equipped with helicopters.

IHS Jane's understands that the Vietnam Ministry of National Defence has considered the Kamov Ka-27 and the Eurocopter AS565 Panther as possible contenders, but the CSBV indicated that it is still considering other possibilities as long as the aircraft fulfils the tonnage limits of its OPVs' flight deck.

The CSBV has declined to reveal neither the budget allocated for the acquisition programme nor the number of units that it intends to purchase. "Expect the acquisition process to start in the next two to three months," said Maj Nguyen.

Besides naval helicopters, the CSBV has also laid out plans to acquire an unknown number of CASA C-212 Aviocar aircraft and mobile ground command centres to manage the aircraft in maritime surveillance missions.

http://congnghequocphong.blogspot.com

Citation :

La Russie met à l'eau le 4e sous-marin destiné au Vietnam

SAINT-PETERSBOURG, 28 mars - RIA Novosti

Le quatrième sous-marin à propulsion diesel-électrique du projet 636 Varchavianka (Improved Kilo, selon le code de l'OTAN) destiné au Vietnam a été mis à l'eau vendredi à Saint-Pétersbourg, a annoncé le comité municipal pour la politique industrielle et les innovations.

"La cérémonie de mise à l'eau du sous-marin Khanh Hoa du projet 636 s'est tenue le 28 mars aux chantiers navals de l'Amirauté à Saint-Pétersbourg", est-il indiqué dans un communiqué du comité.

Au total, la Russie doit fabriquer six sous-marins diesel-électriques du projet 636 pour le Vietnam d'ici 2016 conformément à un contrat d'environ 2 milliards de dollars signé en décembre 2009. La Russie a déjà remis deux sous-marins au Vietnam et le troisième est en période d'essai.

Baptisé "trou noir" par les experts de l'OTAN pour sa discrétion, le sous-marin diesel-électrique polyvalent du projet 636 "Varchavianka" appartient à la 3e génération de sous-marins. Il a un déplacement de 2.350 tonnes en surface et de 3.950 tonnes en plongée et une vitesse de 17/20 nœuds. Le sous-marin a 45 heures d'autonomie. Il peut être doté de 4 missiles Kalibr, de 18 torpilles de 533 mm (six tubes) et de 24 mines et plonger à 300 mètres de profondeur. Son équipage comprend 52 sous-mariniers.

http://fr.ria.ru/defense/20140328/200831039.html

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Vietnam People's Air Force's Su-30MK2 fighters performed a fly-by to salute the flag raising ceremony of the 2 new submarines for the Vietnam People's Navy

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Vietnam to receive two more Gepard frigates in 2017


The People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN) Navy is scheduled to take delivery of its third and fourth Russian-built Gepard 3.9 (Project 11661) light frigates in 2017, according to financial statements released by Russia's Zelenodolsk Shipyard on 1 April.

The PAVN Navy commissioned its first two modified Gepard-class frigates, Dinh Tien Hoang and Ly Thai Ho , in March and August 2011 respectively. The two additional vessels, reported to be anti-submarine warfare (ASW) variants, are being built under a contract signed in late 2011.

The class is based on a Russian Navy design, but modified according Vietnamese requirements by the Zelenodolsk Design Bureau. The vessels feature a low-observable superstructure, have an overall length of 102 m, and displace 2,100 tonnes at full load. The vessels can reach a top speed of 26 kt and have a range of 5,000 nautical miles at 10 kt.

According to IHS Jane's Fighting Ships , the light frigates' armaments include one 76 mm AK-176, two 30 mm AK-630, and two AO-18KD guns. The ships can embark a Ka-28 or Ka-31 naval helicopter on deck.

The Gepard class is expected to replace the four Petya (Project 159)-class light frigates that have been in service for more than 30 years.

http://www.janes.com

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Le drapeau vietnamien hissé sur deux sous-marins

La Marine populaire du Vietnam a organisé une cérémonie de hissement du drapeau national sur les deux premiers sous-marins de la classe Kilo, marquant la mise en service officielle de ces bâtiments jeudi dans le port militaire de Cam Ranh, province de Khanh Hoa (Centre).

Cet événement revêt une importance particulière comme il marque un nouveau développement de la Marine populaire du Vietnam en particulier et de l’Armée populaire du Vietnam en général, s’est félicité le Premier ministre Nguyên Tân Dung lors de la cérémonie à laquelle ont assisté l’ancien secrétaire du Parti communiste du Vietnam Lê Kha Phiêu, le vice-Premier ministre et ministre des Affaires étrangères Pham Binh Minh et des dirigeants de certains ministères et localités.

La fondation et la défense nationales, l’édification et la défense de la Patrie sont une loi vitale dans l’histoire de développement de la nation vietnamienne. C’est aussi une belle tradition, une obligation sacrée des générations des Vietnamiens, a déclaré le chef du gouvernement.

Dans le contexte mondial et régional immédiat comme à long terme, tout le Parti, toute l’armée et tout le peuple doivent s’unir et faire cause commune, s’efforcer, par la force globale de tout le pays, d’édifier et de sauvegarder à tout prix l’indépendance, la souvernaineté, l’intégrité territoriale de la Patrie, a-t-il souligné.

Le pays ayant subi tant de souffrances et sacrifices dues aux guerres d’agression féroces, nous aspirons à la paix pour la construction nationale et l’amélioration des conditions de vie du peuple, a poursuivi le dirigeant vietnamien.

Mais les bons voeux ne sauraient suffire à nous assurer la paix. Nous devons être puissants dans tous les domaines que ce soient politique, économie, culture, société, défense, sécurité, diplomatie, solidarité nationale, et seulement avec cela que nous pouvons défendre fermement la souveraineté et l’intégrité territoriale du pays.

Ainsi, tout le Party, tout le peuple et toute l’armée devraient saisir à fond et réaliser efficacement les options et résolutions du Party, poursuivre le développement socio-économique rapide et durable, se concentrer sur le renforcement de la capacité de l’armée populaire et de la police populaire, notamment les forces maritimes et aériennes, a indiqué Nguyên Tân Dung.

Le Premier ministre a réaffirmé que la politique de défense du Vietnam est celle de la paix et de l’auto-défense. La modernisation de l’armée du Vietnam est seulement destinée à l’autodéfense et à la sauvegarde des intérêts légitimes du pays. Elle ne vise aucunement un quelconque pays.

Il a profité de cette occasion pour exprimer ses remerciements aux amis internationaux, en particulier le président russe Vladimir Putin, le Premier ministre russe Dmitry Medvedev, le gouvernement russe et le ministère russe de la Défense, les amis russes pour leur soutien précieux accordé au Vietnam durant son processus de modernisation de son armée.

A ce jour, le Vietnam a pris livraison de deux sous-marins à propulsion diesel-électrique du projet 636 Varchavianka (Improved Kilo, selon le code de l'OTAN). Baptisés HQ-182 Hanoi et HQ-183 Hô Chi Minh-Ville, ces bâtiments appartiennent à la troisième génération de sous-marins.

D'un déplacement en charge de 3.100 tonnes, les submersibles de cette classe ont un déplacement de 2.350 tonnes en surface et de 3.950 tonnes en plongée et une vitesse de 17/20 nœuds. Ils peuvent plonger à 300 mètres de profondeur et sont dotés de torpilles de 533 mm (six tubes), de mines et de missiles de croisière Kalibr.

Ces bâtiments sont en mesure de repérer leur cible à une distance trois à quatre fois supérieure à celle à laquelle ils peuvent eux-mêmes être repérés par l'ennemi. Cette discrétion leur a valu d'être surnommés "trous noirs" dans l’océan par les experts de l'OTAN. – VNA

http://fr.vietnamplus.vn/Home/Le-drapeau-vietnamien-hisse-sur-deux-sousmarins/20144/40433.vnplus

Citation :

Vietnam to arm new Gepard-class frigates with Palma CIWS




The People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN) Navy will equip its third and fourth Russian-built Gepard 3.9 (Project 11661) light frigates with the Palma close-in weapon system (CIWS), Nudelman Precision Engineering Design Bureau confirmed in a statement issued 22 April.
The PAVN is scheduled to take delivery of the vessels, reported to be anti-submarine warfare (ASW) variants, in 2017. The first two ships in class, Dinh Tien Hoang and Ly Thai Ho , were commissioned in March and August 2011 respectively and loaded with a similar CIWS.
The Palma CIWS consists of Sosna-R hypersonic surface-to-air missiles, two six-barrel AO-18KD 30 mm automatic cannons and the 3V-89 electro-optical multichannel electronic countermeasures resistant fire-control system. The principal control system is electro-optic with radar back-up.
According to company literature, the system can engage six targets at up to 8 km simultaneously depending on the number of firing modules installed. The manufacturer indicates a gun kill envelope of 0.2 to 4 km to an altitude of 3,000 m and a missile kill envelope of 1.6 to 10 km to an altitude of 5,000 m.

http://www.janes.com/article/36958/vietnam-to-arm-new-gepard-class-frigates-with-palma-ciws

......
Vietnam to arm new Gepard-class frigates with Palma CIWS

Matador,Tavor et Galil chez les marines.

Citation :

Russia Lays Down 6th Kilo-Class Sub for Vietnam

ST. PETERSBURG, May 28 (RIA Novosti) – The final Kilo-class Project 636 diesel-electric submarine for the Vietnamese navy under a 2009 contract was laid down Wednesday in St. Petersburg, a defense industry source told RIA Novosti.

"Today, we had the ceremony of laying down the sixth submarine for Vietnam. This is the latest submarine in this series," the source said.

Under the $2 billion contract, two submarines have already been delivered to Vietnam, the third is undergoing sea trials, a fourth was floated out in late March, and the fifth and sixth are now under construction.

"Two submarines have already been transferred to the Vietnamese Navy, the third is to be transferred this year and the remaining three in 2015-2016," according to the source.

The vessels are built at the Admiralty Shipyards, a leading enterprise of the Russian shipbuilding industry and part of the United Shipbuilding Corporation. Its military products include warships, especially nuclear and diesel-powered submarines, and large auxiliary vessels.

The $2 billion contract for the supply of six improved Kilo-class submarines to Vietnam was signed in 2009. The submarines will be armed with Club-S anti-ship missiles. The noise level of these submarines is considered the lowest among all Russian vessels.

http://en.ria.ru/

Citation :

Russia Laid Down the 6th and last Kilo-Class Diesel Electric Submarine for Vietnam

The final Project 636 Kilo-class diesel-electric submarine for the Vietnamese navy under a 2009 contract was laid down Wednesday at Admiralty Shipyards in St. Petersburg, a defense industry source told RIA Novosti. "Today, we had the ceremony of laying down the sixth submarine for Vietnam. This is the latest submarine in this series," the source said.

The final Project 636 Kilo-class diesel-electric submarine for the Vietnamese navy under a 2009 contract was laid down Wednesday in St. Petersburg, a defense industry source told RIA Novosti. "Today, we had the ceremony of laying down the sixth submarine for Vietnam. This is the latest submarine in this series," the source said.



Vietnamese soldiers attend a flag-raising ceremony held for the first two submarines at Cam Ranh base, in the central province of Khanh Hoa, Vietnam, April 3, 2014. The HQ 182 Hanoi and HQ 183 Ho Chi Minh City submarines are two of the six Kilo-class submarines Vietnam purchased from Russia under a contract signed in 2009. (Xinhua/VNA)

Under the $2 billion contract, two submarines have already been delivered to Vietnam, the third is undergoing sea trials, a fourth was floated out in late March, and the fifth and sixth are now under construction.

"Two submarines have already been transferred to the Vietnamese Navy, the third is to be transferred this year and the remaining three in 2015-2016," according to the source.

The vessels are built at the Admiralty Shipyards, a leading enterprise of the Russian shipbuilding industry and part of the United Shipbuilding Corporation. Its military products include warships, especially nuclear and diesel-powered submarines, and large auxiliary vessels.

Unparalleled in her technical and operational specifications, the ship is designed to conduct effective anti-sub warfare along with the capability to engage surface ships and coastal targets of potential adversary striking operations both independently or as part of a larger task force. Increased output of the main propulsion plant allowed to enhance significantly her submerged speed alongside with endurance range up to 7500 miles. Furthermore, she is one of the world’s quietest diesel-electric submarines providing guaranteed early enemy detection and long-range attack as well as evasive maneuverability and concealment.

http://www.navyrecognition.com

Citation :

Vietnam debuts 2 locally-made missile warships



The Vietnam People’s Navy on Thursday conducted a flag raising ceremony for two fast-attack missile ships of Molniya class, the first of its kind to have been built locally in Vietnam.

>> Vietnam puts most advanced fisheries surveillance ship into operation amid sea tension
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>> Vietnam to give fishermen soft loans to build ships given marine tension

The ceremony to debut the new vessels, HQ377 and HQ378, was held at the military port of Naval Zone 2 in southern Dong Nai Province.

The ships were earlier handed over by the Ministry of Defense to Brigade 167 of Naval Zone 2.

The vessels, designed based on a Russian version, were built at the Ba Son shipyard under the General Department of Military Industry.

These vessels are equipped with advanced weapons with state-of-the-art functions.

Compared to an older Russian version of its kind, the new vessels have a more modern engine system.

Colonel Luong Viet Hung, Command of the Naval Zone 2, said, “This kind of warship has a complex and modern design, which has made the best use of the latest scientific and technical advancements.”

Each of the warships is equipped with 16 missiles arranged into four modules for launch on its sides, two AK-630 shipborne artillery systems with 4,000 shells each, which can fire 4,000-5,000 shots per minute.

They can operate in seas with winds as strong as 74 kph and are able to attack targets both in the air and on the sea, the colonel said.

He added that these vessels can give effective support to other military ships in battles at sea, contributing to enhance the overall strength of Naval Zone 2 in particular and the Vietnam People’s Navy in general.

At the ceremony, Colonel Hung handed the national flag and Vietnamese naval flag to the captains and political commissars of the two new vessels, wishing them to fulfill their duties in leading the new warships.

“The East Vietnam Sea situation has become increasingly tense and complicated, especially after China illegal placed its Haiyang Shiyou 981 oil rig in the Vietnamese waters. In such context, the High Command of the Naval Zone 2 in general and Bridge 167 and the two new warships must show their solidarity and determination to overcome all difficulties to fulfill all duties assigned to them in the new situation,” Colonel Hung said.

http://tuoitrenews.vn

Citation :

Le Japon va renforcer la marine vietnamienne

Reuters le 01/08/2014 à 09:57  

   HANOI, 1er août (Reuters) - Le Japon va fournir gratuitement six navires de surveillance à la marine vietnamienne pour renforcer sa présence en mer de Chine méridionale, a annoncé vendredi le ministre japonais des Affaires étrangères, en visite à Hanoi.   "La sécurité internationale devient de plus en plus compliquée (...) Il n'y aura de prospérité sans stabilité en mer de Chine méridionale et en mer de Chine orientale", a déclaré Fumio Kishida lors d'une conférence de presse. "J'espère que cet équipement renforcera la capacité des autorités vietnamiennes chargées de la sécurité côtière", a-t-l ajouté.
   En plus de ces navires d'occasion, d'une valeur théorique de 500 millions de yens (environ 3,7 millions d'euros), le Japon va former et équiper les garde-côtes vietnamiens. Cet accord est le dernier signe du renforcement de la coopération entre des pays pris dans des contentieux territoriaux avec la Chine.

(Martin Petty; Henri-Pierre André pour le service français)


http://www.boursorama.com/actualites/le-japon-va-renforcer-la-marine-vietnamienne-a488265906fc79377db57bc1c8209466  

le vietnam a recu des pantsyr s1 alors que jamais la presse en a parlé, c'est la version basic du pantsyr et en version fix

Peut etre pour des test  avant eventuellement l'achat .

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Le 3ème sous-marin vietnamien Projet 636 construit en Russie sera livré à la base de Cam Ranh en fin d'année 2014[/b]

http://vpk.name/news/115185_tretyu_vetnamskuyu_podlodku_dostavyat_v_kamran_v_konce_goda.html

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Chinese Experts: Vietnam Can Buy Amphibious Assault Ship, A-10 and Apache from US


Wasp class amphibious assault ship

Expert: US-Vietnam military relations warming Vietnam was America intentionally offensive weapons

During the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff revealed Martin Dempsey on the 16th visit to Vietnam, the United States in the "near future" to discuss whether to cancel the ban lethal weapons to Vietnam provisions. Military expert Du Wenlong said during an interview with CCTV, said Vietnam needs offensive weapons, thereby improving sea and air forces of neighboring countries deterrent. China Research Institute of International Ruan Zongze that the warming of US-Vietnam military relations between the two countries, the United States marked the further deepening of the South China Sea issue involved.

Vietnam hopes to obtain weapons deterrent from the United States

U.S. arms embargo against Vietnam has experienced a process from tightening to relax. United States arms embargo against Vietnam South Vietnam regime collapse began in 1975, when the Viet Cong seized a large number of American arms left over to South Vietnam, the United States this has been brooding. 1984, Washington formally implemented an arms embargo against Vietnam. However, in recent years the attitude taken by the United States embargo has been softened. In 2007, the United States policy toward Vietnam weapons ban obvious change, the Bush administration revision of the International Traffic in Arms Regulations, as the case may allow the sale of non-lethal weapons to Vietnam, but all deadly weapons remains limited. The United States if the "partial lifting of the ban on the sale of lethal weapons", arms exports to Vietnam will further relaxed.



Du Wenlong believes that Vietnam needs to obtain two types of weapons: one is able to defend their vested interests weaponry; second is to improve the weapons of naval and air forces around the country have a deterrent, mainly offensive weaponry.

Du Wenlong noted that the Vietnamese want to get the most air and sea and amphibious equipment. Most Vietnam helicopters currently in use or during World War II and the Vietnam War from the United States seized the UH-1 helicopters, if Vietnam has A-10 attack aircraft and AH-64 "Apache" helicopter gunships, then Vietnam will be the ability to control at low altitude substantial increase in the target for reconnaissance capability will enhance the surrounding seas. In addition, the special needs of amphibious ships in Vietnam to improve amphibious capabilities, such as second-hand "Wasp" class amphibious assault landing craft or other common, with these weapons, the ability to defend and attack capabilities Vietnam vested interests will be greatly improved. Vietnam may also purchase radar, through a wide range of remote surveillance and early warning, raise the South China Sea maritime and aerial reconnaissance capabilities.



US-Vietnam military relations warming signs U.S. intervention in the South China Sea intensified

Ruan Zongze said, warming US-Vietnam military relations, and that the United States has begun to advance the Indochina region.

Ruan Zongze noted contradictory words and deeds of the United States, the United States on the one hand that the South China Sea issue "do not choose sides", on the other hand is sliding into the South China Sea issue has become a third party. He pointed out that the recent ASEAN Foreign Ministers' meeting, the United States formally thrown "freeze the South China Sea Action" three-point initiative, the proposal stood a non-objective and fair stance by China and the countries of resistance and opposition. Vietnam is now the United States tried to seize the South China Sea issue to intervene more forcefully, "military strength and economic strength in Vietnam belong to class level in the ASEAN region, and guardian of the southeast peninsula, geopolitical location of important American approached Vietnam relations, probably marks U.S. intervention to further deepen the South China Sea issue. "Ruan Zongze said.

http://defense-studies.blogspot.fr/2014/08/chinese-experts-vietnam-can-buy.html

Citation :

Vietnam reveals fourth TT400TP patrol vessel

http://www.janes.com/article/43116/vietnam-reveals-fourth-tt400tp-patrol-vessel

Citation :

Russia to Handover High-Speed Landing Craft for Vietnam

http://defense-studies.blogspot.fr/2014/09/russia-to-handover-high-speed-landing.html

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Exclusive: Courting Vietnam, U.S. prepares to ease arms embargo


(Reuters) - Nearly 40 years after the United States helicoptered its last soldiers out of Vietnam in an ignominious retreat, Washington is moving closer to lifting an arms embargo on its former enemy, with initial sales likely to help Hanoi deal with growing naval challenges from China.

Senior U.S. officials with knowledge of the initiative said Washington wants to support Vietnam by strengthening its ability to monitor and defend its coastline, and said unarmed P-3 surveillance planes could be one of the first sales.

Such aircraft would also allow Vietnam to keep track of China's increasingly assertive activities in the South China Sea, a potential flash point because of interlocking claims from many countries to its islands and reefs.

Two senior Obama administration officials said discussions on easing the embargo are taking place in Washington and could result in a decision later this year.

"The mood is changing, and it is something we're looking at seriously," said one of the officials, speaking on condition of anonymity. "What we have found is a partner in which our interests are converging."

Interest in warmer ties with Vietnam, despite U.S. concerns about its human rights record, aligns with President Barack Obama's strategy to refocus economic, political and military attention toward Asia.

The move to lift the embargo follows a gradual resumption of links between the United States and Vietnam over two decades, which accelerated with a series of high-level diplomatic and military meetings in recent months.

Two senior executives in the U.S. weapons industry told Reuters they expected the U.S. government to lift the arms ban soon. "There is a lot of discussion about allowing weapons sales to Vietnam. It is a promising area for us," said one of the executives, who was not authorized to speak publicly.

Vietnam's Foreign Ministry had no immediate comment.



CAUGHT OFF GUARD

Vietnam's vulnerability to China was exposed in early May when Beijing positioned a massive oil rig in waters that Hanoi claims as part of its 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone.

While Vietnam has embarked on a multi-billion-dollar military modernization program, its surveillance capabilities are limited, and the unannounced deployment of the drilling platform caught Hanoi by surprise. China moved the rig back toward its coast in mid-July.

The two sides clashed at sea in 1988 when China occupied its first holdings in the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea. China took full control of another South China Sea archipelago, the Paracels, after a naval showdown with what was South Vietnam in 1974.

The Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan also have claims in the South China Sea. China has a separate maritime dispute with Japan over islands in the East China Sea.

U.S. Senator John McCain, a former prisoner of war in Vietnam who led the charge to normalize ties with Vietnam in the early 1990s, said he would shortly present a bipartisan proposal to lift some of the restrictions on arms sales.

McCain was one of four U.S. senators to meet the Hanoi leadership and discuss the arms embargo this summer at a time when Sino-Vietnamese ties were at their lowest ebb in decades.

In August, six days after the senators' visit, General Martin Dempsey, chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, made the first trip to Vietnam by America's top soldier since 1971. Vietnam People's Navy Commander-in-Chief Admiral Nguyen Van Hien traveled to the United States last week and discussed joint naval exercises with Navy Secretary Ray Mabus.

Vietnam's foreign minister, Pham Binh Minh, will visit Washington in early October for talks with Secretary of State John Kerry, and U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel is expected to go to Vietnam before the end of the year.

Vietnam is unlikely to stray too far into the U.S. orbit. Soon after the meetings with U.S. civilian and military officials, Hanoi sent a Politburo heavyweight to Beijing to try to repair damaged ties between the communist neighbors.

"Vietnam understands China is forever at its doorstep and wants to have an independent foreign policy," said Phuong Nguyen, a research associate at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington.

Daniel Russel, the U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for East Asia and the Pacific, warned against overstating the rapprochement between the United States and Vietnam.

"I don't believe that Vietnam is looking to swap out the long-term party-to-party relationship that it has enjoyed with Beijing, albeit punctuated with some pretty violent wars, for an exclusive relationship or an alliance with the United States," Russel told Reuters.



STRATEGIC LOCATION

Russel said Vietnam's strategic location was a good reason to work more closely with Hanoi, adding that easing the embargo would be "not a bad thing."

"We are open to - and consider it in our interests to - help countries like Vietnam develop their maritime domain awareness as well as their maritime capacities, and hopefully there will be more to come," he said.

Vietnam is already a big buyer of weapons from Russia, its Cold War-era patron.

It has two state-of-the-art Kilo-class submarines and will get a third in November under a $2.6 billion deal agreed with Moscow in 2009. Three more submarines are to be delivered in the next two years.

Vietnam has also bought modern naval frigates and corvettes, mostly from Russia.

But the P-3 surveillance planes would fill a gap for Vietnam.

There are 435 of the Lockheed Martin-made P-3s in service worldwide, operated by 21 governments, according to Lockheed’s website. The U.S. Navy is replacing its P-3 aircraft with more advanced P-8 surveillance planes built by Boeing Co.

One Lockheed executive was quoted in April 2013 by IHS Janes, a trade publication, as saying Vietnam could request six P-3s, and that there appeared to be growing support in the U.S. government for approving the request. Lockheed officials declined comment on the issue to Reuters, since such weapons sales are handled by the governments involved.

The State Department declined to say whether Vietnam had submitted a formal "letter of request" for the aircraft. One source familiar with the issue said officials were still working through the decisions before such a request would be submitted.

U.S. government officials view sales of maritime surveillance equipment as a good start for the new chapter in U.S.-Vietnamese relations and see P-3 aircraft as a "logical choice," one source said.



(Reporting by Lesley Wroughton and Andrea Shalal; Additional reporting by Mai Nguyen and Martin Petty in Hanoi; Editing by Dean Yates, David Storey and Douglas Royalty)

Citation :

Vietnam acquires unmanned Orbiter 2



Vietnam has acquired the Orbiter 2 unmanned air system (UAS) for use as an aerial forward observation asset for its artillery corps.

The Orbiter 2 is manufactured by Israel's Aeronautics Defense Systems, which says using a UAS instead of a ground-based forward observation officer will provide an improved "first round on target" capability for its customer.An Orbiter 2 flying at 2,000ft can supply artillery units with the co-ordinates of "a number" of targets, it adds.

Aeronautics sources say the Orbiter 2 is also now being offered by Rafael as part of deals that include the latter's Spike air-to-surface missiles, and by Israel Military Industries along with its surface-to-surface rockets.

An upgraded version of the Aeronautics aircraft is also available, with the Orbiter 2B capable of navigating independently to complete a mission, even if GPS is jammed or communication links lost. This variant also can carry payloads to assist with intelligence gathering.

http://www.flightglobal.com

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Vietnam to buy naval vessels from India to patrol disputed South China Sea



In a first overt gesture of strengthening defence ties with Vietnam, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday told Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung that New Delhi will be selling “new naval vessels” to Vietnam under the recently-announced $100 million Line of Credit.

Modi and Tan held bilateral talks during the latter’s third visit to India as the PM. This is the first significant military hardware supply between India and Vietnam, ever since the South China Sea issue came to the fore.

“We will quickly operationalise the $100 million Line of Credit that will enable Vietnam (to) acquire new naval vessels from India,” Modi said, with Tan standing beside him, after the talks at Hyderabad House.

Sources said Vietnam had agreed to buy four patrol vessels for its navy under the Line of Credit scheme. Hanoi wants the vessels for surveillance off its coast and around its military bases in the Spratly island chain in South China Sea where it is building a naval bulwark to China with Kilo-class submarines from Russia.

“Our defence cooperation with Vietnam is among our most important ones. India remains committed to the modernisation of Vietnam’s defence and security forces. This will include expansion of our training programme, which is already very substantial, joint exercises and cooperation in defence equipment,” the Prime Minister said.

Sources also said talks are on to train Vietnam Air Force pilots in flying Sukhoi fighters. India is already training the Vietnam Navy personnel in operating the Kilo-class submarine among other areas.

Tan said, “Both sides agreed to move forward (with) concrete cooperation in national defence and security, an important pillar of the Vietnam-India Strategic Partnership,” adding that Vietnam highly appreciated India’s position on the East Sea issue.

“Today, our partnership is important for promoting our nations’ prosperity and essential for advancing peace and stability in our shared neighbourhood. We have shared interests in maritime security, including freedom of navigation and commerce and peaceful settlement of maritime disputes in accordance with international law,” Modi said.

The leaders also called for “restraint” and “freedom of navigation” in the South China Sea, where China is locked in a bitter dispute with Vietnam and other nations.

Apart from agreements in oil and gas exploration, the two countries signed five pacts for cooperation in sectors like education, culture and broadcasting, conservation and restoration of the world heritage site of MySon in Vietnam’s Quang Nam Province and the Nalanda university project.

The countries also agreed to increase cooperation in space projects and in peaceful uses of nuclear energy.
Modi also invited Vietnamese companies to join ‘Make in India’ programme.
- See more at: http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/vietnam-to-buy-naval-vessels-from-india-to-patrol-disputed-waters/#sthash.EihmQma8.dpuf

http://indianexpress.com

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Russia to build new ships for Vietnamese Navy on schedule

http://en.itar-tass.com/russia/758285

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US State Dept. Issues Language To Allow Defense Exports to Vietnam

http://www.aseanmildef.com/2014/11/us-state-dept-issues-language-to-allow.html

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La Russie va livrer mercredi le 3è sous-marin Kilo au Vietnam


Par Rédacteur en chef.
Publié le 9 décembre 2014, dernière mise à jour le 9 décembre 2014.


Le chantier de l’Amirauté se préparer à livrer mercredi 10 décembre le 3è des 6 sous-marins classiques de la classe Kilo (Projet 636.1) commandés par la marine vietnamienne.


« Un document d’acceptation technique du sous-marin a été signé le 4 décembre, » rapporte l’agence Interfax. Le sous-marin, baptisé Haiphong, doit arriver dans le port de Cam Ranh le 10 décembre.

Les 2 premiers sous-marins, le Hanoi et le Ho Chi Minh, sont actuellement amarrés dans le port de Cam Ranh.

Un 4è sous-marin effectue ses essais à la mer.

Référence :
VietNamNet

http://www.corlobe.tk/spip.php?article36757