Vietnam confirms order of Russian T-90 tanks
Jon Grevatt - IHS Jane's Defence Industry
24 July 2017
Vietnam has ordered 64 T-90S/SK main battle tanks (MBTs)
from Russia, state-run news agencies in Hanoi confirmed on 21 July.
The reports, which cited comments from Russian defence
officials who were speaking at a press conference at the MAKS-2017 aerospace
exhibition in Moscow, said that the acquisition will be funded by credit
provided by Moscow.
Jane’s first reported in early July that Russian tank
manufacturer UralVagonZavod revealed in its annual report that it had secured
an order from Vietnam for the T-90S/SK MBTs. The T-90S is the basic export
model, while the 'K' postfix is a reference to command versions.
The value of the T-90 deal was not disclosed but is
thought to be about USD250 million. The investment represents the first major
order of new MBTs that the Vietnam People’s Army (VPA) has secured for many
years. Investment over the past decade and more has been firmly focused on
modernising the Vietnamese navy and air force.
In addition to the MBTs, the reports said Vietnam is also
positioned to procure from Russia four S-400 Triumf missile systems to boost
surface-to-air missile capability and MiG-35 multirole combat aircraft to
replace the Vietnam People’s Air Force’s (VPAF’s) MiG-21 fighters, which are
now thought to have been retired.
The number of Su-35s that the VPAF is looking to procure
was not revealed, although the service previously operated more than 30 MiG-21s
and is known to require significant additional numbers of fighter aircraft to
enhance air combat capability.
To support these purchases and others, the state news
agencies in Hanoi reported that Russia’s defence industry is looking to expand
its presence in Vietnam.
*Note typo error by Jane’s as it mentions both Su-35 and
MiG-35…….
In April 2017 there were reports Vietnam People’s Air
Force is allegedly interested in procuring a squadron of Sukhoi Su-35S
multirole fighter jets. However, According
to Vietnamese media reports, some Russian experts cautioned that Vietnam may
not have the budgetary means to procure additional fighter jets at this
juncture given the country’s financial commitments to other projects. (Source)
Therefore the MiG-35 would seem more favorable
and more within the budgetary means……
In 2015 Sputnik reported that Vietnam may buy the MiG-35
to replace the country's third-generation MiG-21 fighter jets. (Source)
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