Vietnam Defence Forum

[Carlosa]

U.S. mulls selling weapons to Vietnam to stave off Chinese ‘hegemony’

U.S. mulls selling weapons to Vietnam to stave off China military buildup in region - Washington Times

The top admiral in charge of U.S. military operations in Asia saysWashington should drop its remaining restrictions on weapons sales to Vietnam in order to better defend against China’s military buildup in the South China Sea.

Navy Adm. Harry Harris Jr., the head of U.S. Pacific Command, told lawmakers on the Senate Armed Services CommitteeTuesday that they’d have to believe the world was flat to think Beijing is not trying to militarily dominate the region.

“I believe China seeks hegemony in East Asia — simple as that,” he said in remarks likely to further inflame tensions that have risen between Washington and Beijing during recent days.

The two powers have traded rhetorical barbs since last week when reports emerged that Beijing had deployed anti-aircraft missiles on the Paracels Islands chain. The chain has been under Chinese control for decades but is also claimed by Vietnam and Taiwan.

On Monday, the Center for Strategic International Studies, aWashington think-tank, reported that China has also built new radar facilities in the Spratly Islands, another disputed chain further south than the Paracels in the South China Sea.

Some analysts have argued that Beijing is engaged in a yearslong strategy known as “salami-slicing” — effectively conducting a steady stream of small military actions that when compiled over time will amount to a major reorganization of the military power structure in the region.

During his testimony on Tuesday, Adm. Harris confirmed the new CSIS report about Chinese radar facilities. But he also asserted that the overall situation presents a “strategic opportunity” for the U.S. to beef up its alliances with nations on China’s periphery, including Vietnam, whose leaders have increasingly called on Washington to take a more aggressive posture.

The Obama administration has pushed for warmer relations with Hanoi during recent years. In 2014, the administration announced the partial lifting of the U.S. ban on weapons sales toVietnam. The move was historic in that it came some 40 years after the end of the Vietnam war.

However, some restrictions were left in place. Administration officials have said only the sale of lethal maritime security and surveillance capabilities would be allowed and, to date, no weapons sales to Vietnam have been reported.

Sen. John McCain, a Vietnam veteran, who has long pushed for reconciliation between Washington and Hanoi despite the communist government in power in there, brought the weapons issue up during Tuesday’s hearing.

“Do you think it’s important for us to lift restrictions on the sale of weapons to Vietnam?” the Arizona Republican and ArmedServices Committee chairman asked.

“Yes, senator, I believe that we should improve our relationship with Vietnam,” Adm. Harris responded. “I think it’s a great strategic opportunity for us, and I think the Vietnamese people would welcome the opportunity to work closer with us as their security partner of choice.”

 

[Viet]

it is highnoon for the US to end arms embargo. what are they waiting for?

 

[Viet]

Vietnam Confirmed Purchasing of 20 Israeli EXTRA | Defence blog

Feb 25, 2016



EXTRA missiles


According to a report recently published SIPRI said, Vietnam has purchased 3 systems SPYDER-SR missiles, S-125 Pechora-2T, and especially the 20 combinations EXTRA rockets.

EXTRA missile developed by Israeli defense companies Military Industries (IMI) and has been exported to foreign countries to remain anonymous, even if the Israeli army has not yet entered service this weapon system.

EXTRA has a range of around 150 km, the weight of 150 kg missile, circular error probability (CEP) of about 10 m. Meanwhile, 155 mm artillery shells by US standards is expected to be 200-300 m CEP at much more modest range.




EXTRA missiles



EXTRA capable of launching from a variety of means to carry, launch tubes are assembled in clusters of 2 to 16 to release results from the ground. Cluster launch tubes can be mounted on trucks or in highly mobile battlefield fixed. EXTRA bullet to the airtight container should have a long life and low maintenance costs.

With the above advantages, EXTRA very suitable to equip the army artillery, rockets coast of Vietnam People’s Navy. EXTRA can appropriately arranged on the islands are small as some floating islands of the Spratly Islands of Vietnam.

Thus, along with the system EXTRA, Vietnam Navy also have 4K51 Rubezh, Bal-E, Bastion-P and REDUT, the system will create a network of integrated coastal defense navy new Vietnam, which is a dense network of 5 levels, assuming the role of attack to different defenses.

Because according to sources from the Corporation tactical missile (KTRV) of Russia in mid-2015, Vietnam was the second country after Russia put to equip the missile defense coast Bal-E advanced .

Shore missile systems to undertake this important task is to control the seas and the Strait area; protect naval bases, protection and infrastructure targets on our shores, as well as the coast guard on the direction of the enemy can amphibious warships.




Bal-E Mobile Coastal Missile System with Kh-35 Uran missile


The combination of short range missile defense Bal-E is capable of effectively supporting the missile defense Bastion-P coast range that Vietnam Navy is using while the lower price. Bal-E is one of the missile defense system to maneuver coast, capable of sudden attacks and massively into the enemy ships, change the battlefield in a short time, then re ready to make a the next powerful attack.

Bal-E has good maneuverability, firepower and high precision, can be operational in all weather conditions, with the ability to lead a fully autonomous rocket after launch in conditions of antagonism firepower and electronic radio’s keeper.

Owning missile system Bal-E coastal defense forces Vietnam can solve tactical missions-campaign with minimal cost by building a system of exploitation and repair unique missile most, by type Kh-35E missiles to equip combinations Bal-E was no stranger to the Navy in Vietnam.

 

[Viet]

Sigma Class Warship


never ending story. will Sigma come to Vietnam? yes or no, or maybe yes and no. Latest rumour says: it comes. somewhen between end of 2016 as earliest and 2019 as latest.

Purchase is confirmed by

SIPRI Yearbook 2014
Armaments, Disarmament and International Security
Vietnam
Page 14

http://www.sipri.org/yearbook/2014/files/sipri-yearbook-2014-chapter-4-section-iii

Sigma 9814 class

Specs:

• 2 x Sigma-class corvettes for $668 million, with the Dutch partly responsible for funding
• 98m in length, 1,950 tons, with a crew of 91
• 1 x multi-beam S-band radar with 250+ km range. It’s tied into Thales’ TACTICOS combat system. SMART-S Mk 2 radar and STING EO Mk 2 electro-optical fire control system
• 8x MBDA Exocet MM40 Block 3
• 12x MBDA MICA VL surface-to-air missiles (in VLS)
• 1x Oto Melara 76mm main gun
• 2x Oto Melara MARLIN-WS 30mm gun mounts
• 1 x anti-submarine helicopters Ka-28
• latest generation of electronics and sensors from Thales
• torpedo launchers

one of the vessels will be built by DSNS in the Netherlands and the other in Vietnam, where Damen owns five commercial shipyards and is developing a sixth in Haiphong.

 

[Aqsuperman]

Replenishing ammunitons in a break betwwen live-fire excersise...........I think there is something oddd about that tank turret though

 

[Barmaley]

Replenishing ammunitons in a break betwwen live-fire excersise...........I think there is something oddd about that tank turret though

it's a T-54-2 have such turret

 

[Aqsuperman]

it's a T-54-2 have such turret

Thanks for the info, i kept thinking about American M series tank turret when i see the upper part of that turret lol :v

1 of 2 North korea Yugo submarine in service. Still retain for potential Commando insertation. No longer equip with torpedoes drop pods

 

[Viet]

a major step forward. End of this year 2016, all 6 Kilo Subs will be operational, ready patrolling the sea lanes. day and night. defending Vietnam at sea. especially for Vietnam submarine force, the subs have GE2-01 radar and improved MGK 400E sonar onboard for quick target recognition/acquisition, able to operate in more weather conditions.

 

[Desertfalcon]

it is highnoon for the US to end arms embargo. what are they waiting for?

I agree completely and will convey that to my Congressman.

 

[Viet]

I agree completely and will convey that to my Congressman.

thanks. for VN armed forces, it would be a much needed step in the arms race.

 

[Viet]

News from Molniya class corvette. the two new Molniya warships currently under sea trails, coded M5, M6, are expected to enter service middle of 2016. 4 new more Molniya are expected to be built, with a more powerful weaponry onboard: Kalibr cruise missile.

 

[Mokaman]

Sorry Off Topic ... ...



How can most of you forget the old colonial tactic employ by US and their supporting nation.
Divide--and--Conquer is the old colonial tactic that has been used over and
over again by all the white colonial powers since 15th century.

Yes, you have been missing something.
My guess you have been brainwashed in a deep way by US
the global Plunderer and Heinous Invader for far too long.

===

1) Firstly, let me ask you who are stealing Indonesian Off Shore Oils in East Kalimantan and Gold in Freeport, Irian Jaya every second since Suharto era ? --- How much did Indonesia people lost ?
( Answer = the good old USA and Americans ~ that's who )

2) Secondly, who stole Timor Timur from Indonesia ?
( Answer = the good old USA and Americans and Australia and Australians ~ that's who )

3) Thirdly, who stole Eastern IRIAN island from Indonesia ?
( Answer = the good old USA and Americans and Australia and Australians ~ that's who )

4) Fourthly, who stole Christmas island from Indonesia ( very close to West Java island ) ?
( Answer = the good old USA and Americans and Australia and Australians ~ that's who )

Need I give you more example of Plundering and Theft ... ...suffered by Indonesia and Indonesian at the hand of master plunderer ^ the good old USA and Americans and its sidekick Australia and Australians ??

===

Make no mistake about it ... ...

The build up Anti-Stealth Radar and HQ-9 SAM and J-11B by China are targeted
only at USAF F-22 and USN warship Burkes from the Dajjal empire USA.

Let not be forever fooled by American and Western media ... ...

Americans, Australia, and Japan are working very hard to bottle up China SSBN 094 submarine from sailing into Pacific ocean, because if China does not have a nuclear 2nd strike, then USA, Australia, and Japan can always bully and blackmail China whenever they like.
The South China sea problem is only about how China is working hard to
stop and end the American nuclear blackmailing towards China.

===

OTOH, China with their 1B1R global economic program would like very much to bring even more Win--Win--Win Economic Prosperity to Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam, and all China friendly nations across Asia to Europe by financing and helping other nations building up their Cutting Edge infrastructures to connect Europe and South East Asia immediately right now to spur vibrant economic activities around the High Speed Rail dedicated track corridor, just like what happen in China for since 2008.

Proof:

Who is financing the High Speed rail from Jakarta---Bandung 100% without even
asking for the Indonesian government guarantee in case the project fails ??
( Answer = People's Republic of China ~ that's who )

Please correctly get your facts ... ...
Please do not let your personal experiences of the impolite, rude, and stupid behaviors
of some street level regular Chinese in blocking the nation building and mutual economic prosperity between our nations. ( Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, and China )

Too many people has the American Zero--Sum mentality deeply ingrained in their thinking.
Let's embrace the new era of Win--Win--Win Global Prosperity for all progressive nations.



Back to Vietnam Military news ... ...

View attachment 295156

View attachment 295157

The time of Colonial powers and the seizing of territories is over, and how could we forget that China did some nice grabbing land too during that period. How about Tibet, East Turkestan, Paracel islands to name a few. Chinese will say those territories belong to China, but PLA took them military and I'm sure the people in those territories will vote otherwise if they have a choice...of democratic way. About China giving free loan and money to other nations is like a rich man giving gifts and money to beautiful women, so he could to get laid with all of them later on and those women will end up mistresses... The problem is China is still acting like a colonial empire today. Just look at the strategies of China on the Spratly islands: China want it all and want to kick everybody out. Since the modernization of PLA army, the Chinese politic is getting bullier each day and arrogant. It like PLA modernization give China a superiority complex that grow day by day, just like the Japanese Imperial army gave that superiority complex to Japanese people before WW2. If China treating other nations as their equal, China with have a lot of truthful allies. Pakistan-China relation is an example of partner/partner relation, not big brother/little bro. Viet Nam should be a natural ally with China, considering we have a common border and many similarities like religion, ethnicity, cultural, confucius society, ect...But sadly, China never treat Vietnam as a nation but always as a province

 

[Aqsuperman]

A friendly relation is everything VN has ever wanted toward all countries. Still, after sometime, our old enemy may turn out to be a new friend and our friend turn out to be not too much of a friend..........Hah ! Such diffficult and complexed world we are living in

New camo and maybe some certain improvements on transmission and targeting...........Still prefer something bigger though

 

[Viet]

now something different: trouble in little Saigon



Los Angeles Times
Little Saigon: Trouble recruiting for police ranks - Weekend

Why Orange County police departments have trouble recruiting Vietnamese American officers

Chris Doan, a Westminster police recruit, believes his Vietnamese heritage and language skills would help him on the job. Of the department's 87 officers, just seven are Vietnamese. (Scott Smeltzer / Huntington Beach Independent)


By Brittany Woolsey

Little Saigon stood divided in early 1999.

An immigrant, Truong Van Tran, had hung the Vietnamese flag at his Westminster shop and placed a photograph of Ho Chi Minh in a window, stirring the anti-communist sentiments of other Vietnamese expatriates.

On a Monday in February, more than 200 police officers in riot gear faced hundreds of demonstrators, who would go on to protest for weeks.

The Westminster Police Department felt it didn't have enough officers to handle the situation and called for help from the Orange County Sheriff's Department and several nearby cities.

Even worse, when an understanding of the Vietnamese culture and language seemed paramount in dealing with the standoff, the Westminster force had only four Vietnamese-speaking officers, according to Cmdr. Timothy Vu.




LAPD is more diverse, but distrust in the community remains


Although Orange County has made an effort since then to hire more Vietnamese American officers over the years, many say officials need to do better.

The most recent example of the need for better relations occurred just weeks ago, when police and other officials sought help from the Vietnamese community in the search for three inmates who had escaped from the Central Men's Jail in Santa Ana and were believed to be hiding in Little Saigon: Jonathan Tieu, Bac Duong and Hossein Nayeri. The men, considered dangerous, were eventually recaptured.

In the Westminster Police Department, seven of its 87 officers are Vietnamese, Vu said. Of those seven, three are set to retire in the next few years. Since 1999, the department has had as many as eight full-time Vietnamese American officers and one reserve officer.

Police Explorers Kevin Nguyen, left, and Christopher Cervantes, right, hand out fliers of the three inmates who escaped from an Orange County jail to businesses near Asian Garden Mall in Westminster in late January. (Kevin Chang / Weekend)


In Garden Grove, four out of 155 police officers are Vietnamese, according to the agency.

"We do have calls for service where we do need a Vietnamese-speaking officer to help translate," said Lt. Bob Bogue, who has been with the Garden Grove Police Department for 29 years. "We come across that probably on a weekly basis. We do have civilian Vietnamese employees that can come out and help, and we also have a translation service, but if we can get our numbers of police officers up in the Vietnamese population, it will help us in our service to the public."

He said economic issues have led to officers in general leaving for other agencies, but the department does its best to recruit.

Little Saigon began in Westminster and spread to Garden Grove. Nearby cities, including Fountain Valley, also have large Vietnamese populations.

The Fountain Valley Police Department has 60 officers, but only one is Vietnamese.

Vu, a 21-year veteran of the Westminster Police Department, said it's imperative that the agency and others increase the number of Vietnamese-speaking officers.

But there are cultural barriers, fed by a wariness of authority and a sense of alienation.

"I think their parents have some influence over potential candidates choosing to either join law enforcement or something else," Vu said.

Jeffrey Brody, a professor of communications at Cal State Fullerton who has researched Vietnamese American communities, said officers in Vietnam had a reputation for corruption during the Vietnam War.

"The South Vietnamese police were not very well respected, so this wouldn't be a profession that parents would encourage their children to go into," he said.

People have reported being stopped randomly for petty crimes in Vietnam and officers accepting bribes in exchange for a detainee's release.

In 2010, 21-year-old Nguyen Van Khuong died a few hours after being taken into custody in Vietnam for riding a motorcycle without a helmet, sparking protests against police brutality, according to the group Human Rights Watch.

Manh Ingwerson joined the Westminster Police Department in 1985 as its first Vietnamese American police officer — and the first in Orange County.

Shortly after his arrival, the department heard rumors that a fabric store was illegally selling pharmaceutical drugs.

Ingwerson was able to successfully purchase the drugs while undercover, resulting in the arrest of the store owners.

He remembers feeling shunned by the Vietnamese American community when he joined the agency.

Ingwerson, whose name is Swedish but who looks Asian and relocated to the U.S. from Vietnam when he was 11, said people in the Vietnamese community considered him a "traitor."

"They were so distrusting of the police," he said. "They thought the police were out to get them into trouble, not to help them." They thought of police as "corrupt," he added.

Little Saigon. Cmdr. Al Panella, left, accompanies a group of Westminster police Explorers as they hand out fliers about three inmates who escaped from an Orange County jail recently.(Kevin Chang / Weekend)


Ingwerson, who is planning to retire in July, said he contemplated quitting a few times but stuck with the job because there was no one else to help the Vietnamese people.

But getting more Vietnamese Americans into the police ranks isn't about just changing attitudes. It's about inclusion, Vu said.

"The other aspect of it is we feel that sometimes a lot of these kids just don't have someone that can mentor them or that they can go to ask information about being a police officer," he said. "Law enforcement is, in some ways, an unknown to them."

Vu also noted that getting into law enforcement isn't easy and that a lack of preparation can hurt recruits.

"Sometimes those who are interested aren't prepared to do what they need to do to get themselves competitive for the hiring process," he said. "We see a lot of folks fail out as a result. They're not prepared for the written exam or not too good for the physical agility test."

Still, Chris Doan, one of two Vietnamese American recruits at the Orange County Sheriff's Regional Training Academy in Tustin, thinks he has what it takes. He believes his heritage and language skills might give him an edge in landing a job at the Westminster Police Department.

The 24-year-old Mission Viejo resident, who began training in December at the academy, said he was inspired to become a police officer after working for the university police at Cal State Fullerton, where he graduated with a business degree last spring.

He said he didn't face any backlash from his family or peers, maybe because the Vietnamese community in South County isn't very big and he is largely removed from the cultural pressures.

"My parents never really pressured me into being anything specific," said Doan, who hopes to graduate from the academy in June. "They just kind of let me choose my own career path. When I told them that I wanted to go into law enforcement, they were kind of surprised, but they've been supportive the whole way. I was lucky to have that. I think most of the time, my parents weren't really influenced by other Vietnamese families."

He said he's been training hard in what he called a "military-like boot camp." He has had to pass a written test, a department interview, a background check, a polygraph test, a physical agility test, and medical and psychological exams.

He hopes an increase in Vietnamese American officers will help the community become more trusting of police, especially in Westminster.

"I do want to interact a lot with the Vietnamese community," he said. "The older generations, especially, don't trust cops because of how corrupt they were in Vietnam. I want to show them that we are here to help. We're the good guys and we're on their side."

brittany.woolsey@latimes.com

Woolsey writes for Times Community News.

 

[Viet]

Military hospital in southern Vietnam starts construction of $112mn building

TUOI TRE NEWS
Updated : 02/28/2016 11:25 GMT + 7

Construction of a new building started on Saturday at Ho Chi Minh City-based Military Hospital 175, a long-standing medical facility operated by the Ministry of Defense.



The new building, located at 786 Nguyen Kiem Street, Go Vap District, can house 1,000 beds and will cost VND2.5 trillion (US$112 million), taken from the ministry’s budget.

The project, which covers an area of 70,300m², was launched on the 61st anniversary of Vietnamese Doctor’s Day.

A number of senior officials attended the groundbreaking ceremony, among them Vice President of the National Assembly Huynh Ngoc Son, Deputy Minister of Defense Tran Don, and Minister of Health Nguyen Thi Kim Tien.

Generations of the hospital’s medical staff have been yearning for a new building, said Associate Professor Nguyen Hong Son, director of the infirmary.

“We will do our best to make the hospital a formal and prestigious military medical institution that provides the best possible healthcare for soldiers and military officers as well as civilians,” Son said.

Workers of Corporation 319 ready to launch construction of a new building at Military Hospital 175 in Ho Chi Minh City, February 27, 2016. Photo: Tuoi Tre



In May last year, the hospital began constructing a VND2 trillion ($90 million) orthopedic institute with 500 beds. The combined scale of the two buildings will turn the hospital into a 1,500-bed complex that meets the national standards of a special-ranked hospital.

The new building will be equipped with present-day facilities for diagnosis and treatment, which will offer medical service, transfer of technology, and high-quality human resource training to share the strain on central and top hospitals in Ho Chi Minh City.

Once in operation, the hospital’s main building will have a 5-floor-high foundation and three towers soaring nine floors each connected by corridors.

The gross floor area of the main building is 119,720m² (17,273m² of the basement and 102,448m² of the surface area), with 820 beds.

A separate component for mental, infectious, tuberculosis and lung-related diseases is five floors high, with 8,460m² in gross floor area and 180 beds.

Corporation 319, owned by the Ministry of Defense, is in charge of the project and construction of the building is expected to complete by 2018.