ADAS 2016: L&T seals deal for Vietnam boats
19th September 2016
Gordon Arthur in Hong Kong
Something concrete stemming from Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Vietnam was the signing of a contract for four offshore high-speed patrol boats for the Vietnam Border Defence Force.
The four vessels will be built by Larsen & Toubro (L&T) in India. While no mention was made of the exact type of boat to be sold to Vietnam,
L&T’s website lists a fast patrol vessel that is 46m long and has a beam of 8.5m.
Capable of a maximum speed of 33kt, L&T states the platform is ‘optimised for EEZ and coastal patrol, fisheries protection and monitoring, control and surveillance, anti-smuggling, search and rescue, anti-piracy, providing a communication link and escorting coastal convoys’.
L&T also notes that the design of this in-house fast patrol vessel can be customised to specific client requirements.
The purchase will be paid for by a $100 million line of credit offered by Delhi.
The Vietnam Border Defence Force is the branch of the Vietnam People’s Army responsible for protecting the territorial integrity and security of Vietnam and its offshore islands.
During Modi’s diplomatic visit in early September, the two countries upgraded their relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership. Russia and China already share such a relationship with Vietnam.
This was the first visit by an Indian head of state to Vietnam for 15 years. As India pursues its ‘Act East’ policy of greater engagement with Asia, Vietnam stands out as a key ally.
India also offered Vietnam a $500 million line of credit for ‘facilitating mutual defence cooperation’. One piece of equipment
India is touting to Hanoi is BrahMos cruise missiles. Significantly, no mention was made of this during Modi’s visit.
India also promised a $5 million grant to construct an army software park at the Telecommunications University in Nha Trang. A cybersecurity MoU was signed too between Vietnam’s Ministry of Public Security and India’s Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.