Vietnam Defence Forum

[Viet]

Minister of Public Security To Lam visits Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko, and attends a parade of police force in Minsk.

20 years since establishment of Riot police

 

[Aqsuperman]

Towed Artillery of the VPA

The elderly Zis 3 light field gun. Pretty prominent in island fortifications. Usually held back in the bunker complex like the above and can be brought out in less than 2 minute. Awesome rate of fire too.

85mm D-44 anti tank gun. Also stationed mostly in islands but also at vantage points across the border. Only useful against infantry and light armor such as IFV and APC though. Tanks will be deal with my more modern elements

The giant 152mm D-20. Packed quite a punch with HE round. Rate of fire is low though. Range is also shorter than M46

Good old M101 105mm. A lot of stuffs were captured after the war but only this and the M113 remain in regular and active service. High rate of fire and very accurate for a tactical howitzer.

 

[Viet]

So the latest Hollywood movie "Kong: Skull Island" is going on cinema screen world wide. Most of the scenes were shot in Vietnam, featuring a weird plot between King Kong and Vietnam war. Anyone has interest to see the film?

Not all fim critics celebrate the film. But the girl in the movie, oscar winning actress Brie Larson, may motivate some to go to cinema

 

[Nilgiri]

So the latest Hollywood movie "Kong: Skull Island" is going on cinema screen world wide. Most of the scenes were shot in Vietnam, featuring a weird plot between King Kong and Vietnam war. Anyone has interest to see the film?

View attachment 382867


Not all fim critics celebrate the film. But the girl in the movie, oscar winning actress Brie Larson, may motivate some to go to cinema

Guess I'll watch it for the plot then. @Hell hound @friendly_troll96 @django @Zibago @khanz

 

[Viet]

@Nilgiri

India Military Academy

 

[Hell hound]

Guess I'll watch it for the plot then. @Hell hound

Me too mate

 

[Nilgiri]

@Nilgiri

India Military Academy

Great to see! The cooperation at IMA goes back quite a while to the 90s I believe.

 

[Carlosa]

Vietnam Eyes Israel's Delilah Standoff Missile, and F-16s Could Be Next

Vietnam is looking at ways to boost their offensive capabilities in order to counterbalance China's South China Sea military buildup, and Israel could have just what they need at a very attractive price.
BY TYLER ROGOWAYMARCH 10, 2017

http://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zon...ilah-standoff-missile-and-f-16s-could-be-next

China's militarization of its man-made islands in the South China Sea and the resulting anti-access/area-denial bubbles that will cover massive swaths of that body of water in the not-so-distant future, has Vietnam shopping for weaponry that can counter Beijing's grand plans. Hanoi has already forward-deployed Israeli-built GPS-guided Extra multiple launch rocket systems to their own islands in the South China Sea—a weapon system that could rain down rockets on China's outposts with little warning. Now, Vietnam is looking towards Israel once again for its weapons needs, this time to provide an standoff multi-role cruise missile that can strike targets over 150 miles away with pinpoint accuracy.

According to Flightglobal.com, Israel's Delilah missile system was a topic of discussion between Vietnam's President Tran Dai Quang and Israel Military Industries chairman Yitzhak Aharonovitch while he was visiting Hanoi.

Israel Military Industries Delilah air-launched cruise missile has evolved over the last decade to become a reliable, highly flexible and extremely accurate standoff weapon. Delilah is quite compact when it comes to cruise missiles, weighing in at just over 400 pounds. It can pack different warheads in the 50 to 75 pound weight class and flies to its target at subsonic speeds and at various altitudes. The missile evolved from an air-launched decoy design, having roots going back decades, but its first known operational use was in 2006 against targets in Lebanon. Since then it has been a front-line weapon of choice for the IAF and it would have been heavily used in an Israeli offensive against Iranian nuclear and air defense sites if that operation were to have been launched.

IAF
Delilah uses inertial navigation with embedded GPS coupled to an autopilot for down-range navigation, and then it can switch to imaging infrared or CCD imaging for terminal guidance. It does this via data link allowing for man-in-the-loop control of the missile for final targeting. What this means is that a weapon system officer in the back of a fighter jet 150 miles away can make fine tuned adjustments on the missile's point of impact, giving the missile an extreme level of accuracy.

For instance, instead of hitting a designated building, a controller can have Delilah fly through an air duct or window on that building. It can also hit a moving vehicles and can be used as an anti-ship missile. Israel has long chosen a man-in-the-loop control option for some of their most capable air-to-ground missiles. The much larger AGM-142 Have Nap/Popeye missile, and even the much smaller anti-armor Spike/Tammuz missile use similar control concepts.

Delilah can also loiter over a target area, throttling back its turbojet engine to conserve fuel, and be retargeted on the fly. It can even be told to "go around" if the target can not be identified clearly by the operator. Although it is a key feature of the missile's design, this man-in-the-loop control concept is not absolutely necessary. The weapon can also attack fixed targets autonomously using GPS/INS guidance alone. Delilah can also be configured for the suppression/destruction of enemy air defenses role where it loiters over an area for a period of time. Once it detects an enemy radar emitter it homes in on that target and destroys it.

Although Delilah is best known as a fighter-launched medium range multi-role missile, because of its small size and relatively light weight it can also be carried by helicopters and can even be deployed via ground launchers.

IMI has been working on more advanced versions of the Delilah for export purposes, ones that could feature more range and warhead choices, and are capable of avoiding or attacking air defenses autonomously. Additionally, automatic target recognition and scene mapping capabilities could take the place of man-in-the-loop targeting for certain missions. Similar abilities are being integrated into the latest Tomahawk cruise missiles as well as Lockheed's promising and very stealthy Long-Range Anti-Ship Missile (LRASM), among others.

So what you have here is a single missile that can accomplish what a series of discreet missiles types would be traditionally needed to do so. Which along with its range and size make it perfect for a country that needs a diverse set of standoff missile capabilities but is on a tight budget. As an air launched system, a Vietnamese fixed-wing aircraft would have to fly just 150 miles from Vietnamese mainland before launching a Delilah missile at a target on China's sprawling Fiery Cross Reef island outpost. A Delilah missile could reach China's strategic Hainan Island without needing an aircraft delivery system at all, instead it could be shore-launched. As such, you can see how the system is uniquely suited for Vietnam's regional needs, and the fact that it can attack ships too makes it all that more attractive.

IAF
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=156&v=OtuEDR9kRBc

There is the issue of what Vietnamese aircraft would put such a missile to use. Their Su-30MK2 Flankers could possibly be adapted to employ the missile, and it would not be the first time Israeli avionics found their way into to Russia's iconic heavy-fighter design. Vietnam's Russian-built helicopters could also be adapted to sport the missile, but it would not be ideal. Beyond their existing fighter platforms, Vietnam may also opt to procure western fighter aircraft, and there are rumblings that this could be underway as part of a larger initiative to turn away from Hanoi's traditional sources of weaponry.

Israel may have just the jets to sell them with their new missiles—40 surplus F-16A/Bs "Netz" fighters that are currently up for sale. Israel Aerospace Industries could refurbish these jets indigenously with advanced multi-mode radars, electronic warfare suites and new cockpit avionics. Additionally, IAI can also apply structural upgrades to the used jets to give them thousands of hours of additional service life. Doing so would give Vietnam a uniquely capable and supportable western fighter aircraft that is tailored to employ the Delilah missile, along with other Israeli-built air-ground and air-to-air munitions—and they would not have to deal with the Washington bureaucracy to obtain them.

IAI
If Vietnam were to execute such a strategy, China would not be happy. But considering the changing geopolitical and military realities in Southeast Asia, Vietnam has to do something to further bolster its offensive capabilities. Seeing that a unique Israeli weapon system is already being by Vietnam used to counter-balance China's military expansion in the region, it makes sense that Hanoi would go to the same source to continue doing so, especially if that source can provide big capabilities at a relatively low price. Not just that, but with Vietnam spending increasing defense dollars with Israel for other air combat needs, including ordering high-end SPYDER air defense systems, getting a fighter aircraft that can interoperate intimately with these systems is only logical.

One thing is for certain—fielding a couple squadrons of highly upgraded F-16s armed with Delilah missiles would give Vietnam a considerable boost in power projection capabilities, and would be a worthwhile step in countering China's military expansion into the South China Sea.

Contact the author: Tyler@thedrive.com

ISRAEL RETIRES THE F-16A/B “NETZ” AND PUTS 40 UP FOR SALEBy Tyler RogowayPosted in THE WAR ZONE

These are the F-16's that Vietnam is considering to purchase:

Israel Retires The F-16A/B “Netz” And Puts 40 Up For Sale

The beloved Netz may still have some life left to give.

The IAF just said goodbye to a very dear friend. The General Dynamics F-16A/B “Netz” (Hawk) has been retired after 36 years of history making service. Following the type’s retirement, Israel put 40 of the jets up for sale.Maybe even more than the McDonnell Douglas F-15A/B Baz that came before it, the F-16A/B Netz revolutionized the way the Israeli Air Force fights. Their existence affected the course of history by shifting the strategic equation in the Middle East.

75 “Electric Fighters” were ordered by Israel in 1978 under the Peace Marble I program. The first Block 5 and Block 10 (later upgraded to a common Block 10 configuration) jets outfitted with Israeli modifications and desert camouflage arrived Ramat David AFB in Israel in July of 1980. These aircraft were originally intended for the Shah of Iran, Israel originally procured the type more as a response to the high cost of the F-15 Eagle than anything else. With those costs in mind and a bargain on the new aircraft to be had, the IAF decided that a high-low capability mix was needed to firmly establish Israel’s air superiority in the region.

Just a matter of weeks after the first Israeli Air Force F-16s arrived, the type was declared operational. Not long after the jets were pressed into combat, a first for the F-16. On April 28th, 1981, an IAF Netz fighter shot down a Syrian helicopter with its cannon, marking the first air-to-air victory for the F-16. Other Syrian aircraft quickly followed, and the F-16’s reputation for being vicious air-to-air fighter was quickly cemented.

IAF

An F-16B Netz flying high over Israel.

Though the F-16 remains an incredibly deadly air-to-air combatant, the Netz also gave the IDF a new level of precision in the strike role. The jet’s high-tech, constantly computed impact point bombing system allowed for the delivery of hard-hitting 2,000lb bombs with relatively reliable accuracy against large targets. This capability was put to use in dramatic fashion on June 7th, 1981 when a formation of IAF F-16s executed a daring long-range daytime bombing raid on Saddam Hussein’s Osiris nuclear reactor near Baghdad.

Dubbed “Operation Opera,” the mission saw eight F-16As, each loaded with two 2,000lb Mk84 bombs with delay fuses, and six F-15As swoop across the desert to pulverize the heart of Iraq’s burgeoning nuclear program. Against great odds the mission was a massive and history-changing success—and the F-16 made it possible.

At the time, Saddam Hussein was an enemy of the new Iranian regime and thus an ally of the US. If the reactor had not been destroyed, there's a good chance Iraq would have become the first nuclear-armed Arab nation in the Middle East.


The Netz would go on to serve for 36 years with the IAF, seeing countless combat sorties and shooting down dozens of enemy aircraft. A total of 125 F-16A/Bs were delivered to the IAF between 1981 and 1994, in two distinct lots. The initial 75 aircraft were delivered by the end of 1981. A second lot, dubbed Peace Marble IV, saw the introduction of the F-16C/D “Barak” (Lightning) into IAF service in the late ‘80s. Another batch of F-16A/Bs was delivered to Israel in 1994 as thanks for staying out of Operation Desert Storm, even while Iraqi Scud missiles rained down on Israeli territory. A total of 50 US surplus Block 5 and Block 10 F-16s made up the Peace Marble IV program.

Israel’s love affair with the F-16 continued far beyond the Netz or the initial orders of the Barak. More F-16C/Ds and eventually the advanced F-16I Soufa (Storm) would round out the IAF’s F-16 inventory. In recent years the oldest A-models have been retired, including the most combat decorated F-16 of all time. Other remaining A/B models were transferred to the aggressor role with the famed Red Dragon Squadron, or were used as advanced trainers for IAF pilots and weapon systems officers (WSOs).

IAF

Israeli F-16As on the ramp.

Now, as the IAF’s first F-35As arrive and the M346 Lavi fills Israel’s advanced jet trainer role, the Netz have finally been pulled from service. The type had flown 335,000 flight hours and participated in 474,000 sorties during its IAF career, and changed the entire strategic paradigm in the Middle East in the process.

With a massive aid package from the US going into effect, F-35’s beginning to arrive, upgrades on newer fighters underway, and with the F-15 fleet of all generations still going strong, Haarets reports that Israel is putting some of its flyable F-16A/Bs up for sale, along with other surplus hardware:

“Israel's Defense Ministry has announced that it will try to sell the aircraft to foreign forces. Specifically, the ministry’s Defense Aid Branch has advertised that 40 such planes are up for sale, noting that in the IAF they served in a variety of missions and are “especially recommended for attack forces. Israel is also selling another seven Hercules C-130 planes, seven Hawk fighter-interceptor systems, 40 Skyhawk Eagles and eight Cobra helicopters.”

IAF

The F-16A/B, with its simplicity, light weight, and early flight control system remains a very nimble adversary aircraft for fleet pilots to face off against.

It remains unclear exactly who may be a customer for these older F-16s, but Jordan, an ever-closer military ally of Israel, is one possibility. They have bought second-hand European F-16s for years, and Israel would likely cut them a very good deal, even providing upgrades to the jets to make them more relevant to today’s battlefield. In the past Israel has gifted Jordan surplus AH-1 attack helicopters, so there is a chance the jets could be given to Jordan for the price of upgrades alone. It is also possible that a private adversary support contractor could make a play at these surplus F-16s, as the market is set to explode in size in the coming years. Having a true 4th generation threat profile to offer, one that is radar equipped and highly manueverable, is clearly where the field is headed, and Israel's aerospace industry could easily upgrade these jets with modern radars, such as the Elta 2032. In the past Isarel has sold some of its surplus A-4 Skyhawks to adversrary and testing support contractors.

During the jet’s retirement ceremony on December 26th, Colonel Itamar, the commander of Ouvda AFB said these fitting words to commemorate the Netz’ service:

"Today, we say goodbye to an incredible aircraft that seems to have been created by an artist, an aircraft that fits its missions like a glove”

AP

An adversary Netz returns from a training mission.

Lt. Colonel Udi, who commands the much vaunted Red Dragons aggressor squadron, summed up the unique nature of an aircraft that had such a huge impact on Israeli history:

“Today, we sign the last chapter of the 'Netz' aircraft in the IAF… Only those who have touched the aircraft, only those who have been touched by the aircraft, know that the 'Netz' is not just an object - it has a soul.”

Even though the Netz is officially gone from IAF service, you can celebrate the type by watching the ‘80’s cult classic fighter flick Iron Eagle. The film was shot in Israel just a few years after the Netz arrived, and the aircraft is one of the stars of the movie. The film was shot outside the US was because the Pentagon had a policy at the time that the military wouldn't support any Hollywood movie that featured stolen aircraft. Till this day, some of the best air-to-air footage of F-16s can be seen in this film.

Contact the author Tyler@thedrive.com

 

[Carlosa]

Vietnam Acquires Undersea Power
March 8, 2017 - 11:55am
http://www.worldpolicy.org/blog/2017/03/08/vietnam-acquires-undersea-power

By Sarosh Bana

As with most countries in the Asia-Pacific littoral, Vietnam is steadily bolstering its military against an increasingly confrontational China. The country’s defense budget has grown almost fourfold in the past decade, from $1.3 billion in 2006 to $5 billion in 2016.

The country of 95 million has complained of numerous transgressions by China since 1957, when both states accepted a land and sea boundary known as “the frontier line.” They even waged a naval battle in 1988 in the disputed South China Sea, in which 64 Vietnamese perished and China took control of the Johnson South Reef.

Vietnam has protested China’s deployment of an oil rig in the disputed waters in 2014 and Beijing’s meddling that led to India’s withdrawal from a joint oil exploration project with Petro-Vietnam in the Phu Khanh Basin. Vietnamese fishing craft also clash frequently with Chinese trawlers near the disputed islands of Paracel and Spratly.

Curiously, both countries have in Russia a common supplier of military hardware. A dozen of China’s 53 diesel-electric submarines are Russian-made. Beijing undoubtedly has one of the largest fleets of attack submarines, including four ballistic missile submarines (SSBNs) and six nuclear-powered attack submarines (SSNs). It is close to deploying a powerful undersea nuclear deterrent, with each of its SSBNs to be armed with 12 JL-2 missiles that can deliver nuclear warheads at a range of 4,320 nautical miles.

In contrast, Vietnam has only recently begun creating a credible submarine force through an order for six new P-636 submarines from Russia. Hanoi had acquired two Yugo class midget submarines from North Korea in a “guns-for-rice” barter in 1997, but used them primarily for operations and maintenance training.

Vietnam had, in fact, been seeking submarines since the late 1980s, but after negotiations with Moscow that led to a dual training program on a non-nuclear submarine from the Soviet Pacific Fleet, the Soviets backtracked so as not to upset the Chinese. The collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 further dampened Vietnam’s aspiration for a submarine fleet.

When it finally came about, the $3.2 billion export order in December 2009 for the six P-636s was one of Moscow’s largest for naval hardware. The deal was for the state-owned St. Petersburg-based shipyard, Admiralteiskie Verfi (Admiralty Wharf) to build and weaponize the boats, train Vietnamese crews in Russia, and build a submarine facility at the Cam Ranh Bay deepwater harbor, an inlet in southeast Vietnam close enough to the Paracels to create a deterrent.

The P-636 submarine is nicknamed a “black hole” by the U.S. Navy for its extreme stealth, as it is considered the quietest diesel-electric submarine in the world. The version Vietnam is importing, the P-636MV, is superior in several ways to their older variant, the P-636MK, which Beijing bought from Russia in 1999. The P-636MV’s stealth features have been improved through the removal of flood ports (which channel seawater to ballast tanks) and a hull layered with echo-free rubber tiles. The P-636MV surpasses the P-636MK in terms of range, speed, reliability, sea endurance, acoustic characteristics, and firepower.

Designed primarily for anti-submarine and anti-surface-ship warfare, as well as for general reconnaissance and patrol missions, the P-636 submarine offers enhanced combat effectiveness. It can be armed with radar-guided torpedoes, underwater mines, or torpedo tube-launched cruise missiles like those used by the Russian navy in the ongoing Syrian conflict. It is also capable of detecting an enemy submarine at a range three to four times greater than the range at which it can be detected itself.

All six of Vietnam’s submarines are recent acquisitions—they entered service between January 2014 and January 2017. They will operate under the People’s Army of Vietnam Navy’s Submarine Brigade 189. “Up to now, the Brigade has fully mastered the submarines,” notes a Vietnamese government statement.

The land attack cruise missiles arming this underwater fleet will accord Vietnam a potent deterrent that queers China’s strategic calculations in the South China Sea. These precision strike missiles can reach such strategic targets as military installations in Guangdong province’s Zhanjiang, where China’s South Sea Fleet headquarters is located, and the Yalong Bay naval base in Hainan, China’s southernmost province where its nuclear submarines are based.

China, however, is no sitting duck. The People’s Liberation Army Navy has deployed three SSBNs at Hainan and may have also deployed its SSNs. Its newest conventional submarines are also based at Yalong Bay.

As Vietnam expands its naval forces, it is mindful of the fact that although China is a daunting adversary, submarines can be a great equalizer—especially when they are near impossible to detect and have recourse to effective firepower. Some Chinese experts feel that while Beijing need not fear an immediate submarine threat from Vietnam, the effect of this buildup cannot be underestimated and may start to raise concerns.

Russia has transferred all the technologies Vietnam needs to operate the submarines, but it is not Hanoi’s only major ally. India, too, is providing training to Vietnamese crews, as Indian forces have experience operating Russian submarines in waters of a similar temperature. With both Russian and Indian support, Vietnam’s submarine force will likely soon reach full combat capability. Hanoi is assiduously building up its ability to project power in the region and defend its maritime interests.

Sarosh Bana is the executive editor of Business India.

 

[Viet]

Surveillance radar made by Viettel. Besides the company can make most 4G components for mobile communications.

 

[Viet]

Besides Viettel, the other major telco player VNPT has began setting up factories to mass produce glas Fibre and telco devices for domestic and foreign markets. The company reports having introduced its products to 30 countries last year.

 

[Viet]

a domestic made underwater UAV yk-01

The most heavy artillery in the army: 152mm howitzer, max range 17.4km

 

[fadine]

Viettel made new missile: VCM-01

 

[Viet]

Making history

For the first time ever, a president of South Korea, Park Geun-hye, is forcefully removed from power. Looking back, we should remember of her great contribution to pushing the Vietnam-Korea relationship to a level never seen in history. Under her reign, South Korea provides ODA, technical assistance, cheap loans, transfers technology, signs FTA, pours massive money into Vietnam manufacturing industry, last but not least she tirelessly promotes cultural ties, friendship with Vietnam.

Farewell Ms Park!

 

[hoangsa74]

Vietnam Eyes Israel's Delilah Standoff Missile, and F-16s Could Be Next

Vietnam is looking at ways to boost their offensive capabilities in order to counterbalance China's South China Sea military buildup, and Israel could have just what they need at a very attractive price.
BY TYLER ROGOWAYMARCH 10, 2017

http://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zon...ilah-standoff-missile-and-f-16s-could-be-next

China's militarization of its man-made islands in the South China Sea and the resulting anti-access/area-denial bubbles that will cover massive swaths of that body of water in the not-so-distant future, has Vietnam shopping for weaponry that can counter Beijing's grand plans. Hanoi has already forward-deployed Israeli-built GPS-guided Extra multiple launch rocket systems to their own islands in the South China Sea—a weapon system that could rain down rockets on China's outposts with little warning. Now, Vietnam is looking towards Israel once again for its weapons needs, this time to provide an standoff multi-role cruise missile that can strike targets over 150 miles away with pinpoint accuracy.

According to Flightglobal.com, Israel's Delilah missile system was a topic of discussion between Vietnam's President Tran Dai Quang and Israel Military Industries chairman Yitzhak Aharonovitch while he was visiting Hanoi.

Israel Military Industries Delilah air-launched cruise missile has evolved over the last decade to become a reliable, highly flexible and extremely accurate standoff weapon. Delilah is quite compact when it comes to cruise missiles, weighing in at just over 400 pounds. It can pack different warheads in the 50 to 75 pound weight class and flies to its target at subsonic speeds and at various altitudes. The missile evolved from an air-launched decoy design, having roots going back decades, but its first known operational use was in 2006 against targets in Lebanon. Since then it has been a front-line weapon of choice for the IAF and it would have been heavily used in an Israeli offensive against Iranian nuclear and air defense sites if that operation were to have been launched.

IAF
Delilah uses inertial navigation with embedded GPS coupled to an autopilot for down-range navigation, and then it can switch to imaging infrared or CCD imaging for terminal guidance. It does this via data link allowing for man-in-the-loop control of the missile for final targeting. What this means is that a weapon system officer in the back of a fighter jet 150 miles away can make fine tuned adjustments on the missile's point of impact, giving the missile an extreme level of accuracy.

For instance, instead of hitting a designated building, a controller can have Delilah fly through an air duct or window on that building. It can also hit a moving vehicles and can be used as an anti-ship missile. Israel has long chosen a man-in-the-loop control option for some of their most capable air-to-ground missiles. The much larger AGM-142 Have Nap/Popeye missile, and even the much smaller anti-armor Spike/Tammuz missile use similar control concepts.

Delilah can also loiter over a target area, throttling back its turbojet engine to conserve fuel, and be retargeted on the fly. It can even be told to "go around" if the target can not be identified clearly by the operator. Although it is a key feature of the missile's design, this man-in-the-loop control concept is not absolutely necessary. The weapon can also attack fixed targets autonomously using GPS/INS guidance alone. Delilah can also be configured for the suppression/destruction of enemy air defenses role where it loiters over an area for a period of time. Once it detects an enemy radar emitter it homes in on that target and destroys it.

Although Delilah is best known as a fighter-launched medium range multi-role missile, because of its small size and relatively light weight it can also be carried by helicopters and can even be deployed via ground launchers.

IMI has been working on more advanced versions of the Delilah for export purposes, ones that could feature more range and warhead choices, and are capable of avoiding or attacking air defenses autonomously. Additionally, automatic target recognition and scene mapping capabilities could take the place of man-in-the-loop targeting for certain missions. Similar abilities are being integrated into the latest Tomahawk cruise missiles as well as Lockheed's promising and very stealthy Long-Range Anti-Ship Missile (LRASM), among others.

So what you have here is a single missile that can accomplish what a series of discreet missiles types would be traditionally needed to do so. Which along with its range and size make it perfect for a country that needs a diverse set of standoff missile capabilities but is on a tight budget. As an air launched system, a Vietnamese fixed-wing aircraft would have to fly just 150 miles from Vietnamese mainland before launching a Delilah missile at a target on China's sprawling Fiery Cross Reef island outpost. A Delilah missile could reach China's strategic Hainan Island without needing an aircraft delivery system at all, instead it could be shore-launched. As such, you can see how the system is uniquely suited for Vietnam's regional needs, and the fact that it can attack ships too makes it all that more attractive.

IAF
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=156&v=OtuEDR9kRBc

There is the issue of what Vietnamese aircraft would put such a missile to use. Their Su-30MK2 Flankers could possibly be adapted to employ the missile, and it would not be the first time Israeli avionics found their way into to Russia's iconic heavy-fighter design. Vietnam's Russian-built helicopters could also be adapted to sport the missile, but it would not be ideal. Beyond their existing fighter platforms, Vietnam may also opt to procure western fighter aircraft, and there are rumblings that this could be underway as part of a larger initiative to turn away from Hanoi's traditional sources of weaponry.

Israel may have just the jets to sell them with their new missiles—40 surplus F-16A/Bs "Netz" fighters that are currently up for sale. Israel Aerospace Industries could refurbish these jets indigenously with advanced multi-mode radars, electronic warfare suites and new cockpit avionics. Additionally, IAI can also apply structural upgrades to the used jets to give them thousands of hours of additional service life. Doing so would give Vietnam a uniquely capable and supportable western fighter aircraft that is tailored to employ the Delilah missile, along with other Israeli-built air-ground and air-to-air munitions—and they would not have to deal with the Washington bureaucracy to obtain them.

IAI
If Vietnam were to execute such a strategy, China would not be happy. But considering the changing geopolitical and military realities in Southeast Asia, Vietnam has to do something to further bolster its offensive capabilities. Seeing that a unique Israeli weapon system is already being by Vietnam used to counter-balance China's military expansion in the region, it makes sense that Hanoi would go to the same source to continue doing so, especially if that source can provide big capabilities at a relatively low price. Not just that, but with Vietnam spending increasing defense dollars with Israel for other air combat needs, including ordering high-end SPYDER air defense systems, getting a fighter aircraft that can interoperate intimately with these systems is only logical.

One thing is for certain—fielding a couple squadrons of highly upgraded F-16s armed with Delilah missiles would give Vietnam a considerable boost in power projection capabilities, and would be a worthwhile step in countering China's military expansion into the South China Sea.

Contact the author: Tyler@thedrive.com

ISRAEL RETIRES THE F-16A/B “NETZ” AND PUTS 40 UP FOR SALEBy Tyler RogowayPosted in THE WAR ZONE

These are the F-16's that Vietnam is considering to purchase:

Israel Retires The F-16A/B “Netz” And Puts 40 Up For Sale

The beloved Netz may still have some life left to give.

The IAF just said goodbye to a very dear friend. The General Dynamics F-16A/B “Netz” (Hawk) has been retired after 36 years of history making service. Following the type’s retirement, Israel put 40 of the jets up for sale.Maybe even more than the McDonnell Douglas F-15A/B Baz that came before it, the F-16A/B Netz revolutionized the way the Israeli Air Force fights. Their existence affected the course of history by shifting the strategic equation in the Middle East.

75 “Electric Fighters” were ordered by Israel in 1978 under the Peace Marble I program. The first Block 5 and Block 10 (later upgraded to a common Block 10 configuration) jets outfitted with Israeli modifications and desert camouflage arrived Ramat David AFB in Israel in July of 1980. These aircraft were originally intended for the Shah of Iran, Israel originally procured the type more as a response to the high cost of the F-15 Eagle than anything else. With those costs in mind and a bargain on the new aircraft to be had, the IAF decided that a high-low capability mix was needed to firmly establish Israel’s air superiority in the region.

Just a matter of weeks after the first Israeli Air Force F-16s arrived, the type was declared operational. Not long after the jets were pressed into combat, a first for the F-16. On April 28th, 1981, an IAF Netz fighter shot down a Syrian helicopter with its cannon, marking the first air-to-air victory for the F-16. Other Syrian aircraft quickly followed, and the F-16’s reputation for being vicious air-to-air fighter was quickly cemented.

IAF

An F-16B Netz flying high over Israel.

Though the F-16 remains an incredibly deadly air-to-air combatant, the Netz also gave the IDF a new level of precision in the strike role. The jet’s high-tech, constantly computed impact point bombing system allowed for the delivery of hard-hitting 2,000lb bombs with relatively reliable accuracy against large targets. This capability was put to use in dramatic fashion on June 7th, 1981 when a formation of IAF F-16s executed a daring long-range daytime bombing raid on Saddam Hussein’s Osiris nuclear reactor near Baghdad.

Dubbed “Operation Opera,” the mission saw eight F-16As, each loaded with two 2,000lb Mk84 bombs with delay fuses, and six F-15As swoop across the desert to pulverize the heart of Iraq’s burgeoning nuclear program. Against great odds the mission was a massive and history-changing success—and the F-16 made it possible.

At the time, Saddam Hussein was an enemy of the new Iranian regime and thus an ally of the US. If the reactor had not been destroyed, there's a good chance Iraq would have become the first nuclear-armed Arab nation in the Middle East.


The Netz would go on to serve for 36 years with the IAF, seeing countless combat sorties and shooting down dozens of enemy aircraft. A total of 125 F-16A/Bs were delivered to the IAF between 1981 and 1994, in two distinct lots. The initial 75 aircraft were delivered by the end of 1981. A second lot, dubbed Peace Marble IV, saw the introduction of the F-16C/D “Barak” (Lightning) into IAF service in the late ‘80s. Another batch of F-16A/Bs was delivered to Israel in 1994 as thanks for staying out of Operation Desert Storm, even while Iraqi Scud missiles rained down on Israeli territory. A total of 50 US surplus Block 5 and Block 10 F-16s made up the Peace Marble IV program.

Israel’s love affair with the F-16 continued far beyond the Netz or the initial orders of the Barak. More F-16C/Ds and eventually the advanced F-16I Soufa (Storm) would round out the IAF’s F-16 inventory. In recent years the oldest A-models have been retired, including the most combat decorated F-16 of all time. Other remaining A/B models were transferred to the aggressor role with the famed Red Dragon Squadron, or were used as advanced trainers for IAF pilots and weapon systems officers (WSOs).

IAF

Israeli F-16As on the ramp.

Now, as the IAF’s first F-35As arrive and the M346 Lavi fills Israel’s advanced jet trainer role, the Netz have finally been pulled from service. The type had flown 335,000 flight hours and participated in 474,000 sorties during its IAF career, and changed the entire strategic paradigm in the Middle East in the process.

With a massive aid package from the US going into effect, F-35’s beginning to arrive, upgrades on newer fighters underway, and with the F-15 fleet of all generations still going strong, Haarets reports that Israel is putting some of its flyable F-16A/Bs up for sale, along with other surplus hardware:

“Israel's Defense Ministry has announced that it will try to sell the aircraft to foreign forces. Specifically, the ministry’s Defense Aid Branch has advertised that 40 such planes are up for sale, noting that in the IAF they served in a variety of missions and are “especially recommended for attack forces. Israel is also selling another seven Hercules C-130 planes, seven Hawk fighter-interceptor systems, 40 Skyhawk Eagles and eight Cobra helicopters.”

IAF

The F-16A/B, with its simplicity, light weight, and early flight control system remains a very nimble adversary aircraft for fleet pilots to face off against.

It remains unclear exactly who may be a customer for these older F-16s, but Jordan, an ever-closer military ally of Israel, is one possibility. They have bought second-hand European F-16s for years, and Israel would likely cut them a very good deal, even providing upgrades to the jets to make them more relevant to today’s battlefield. In the past Israel has gifted Jordan surplus AH-1 attack helicopters, so there is a chance the jets could be given to Jordan for the price of upgrades alone. It is also possible that a private adversary support contractor could make a play at these surplus F-16s, as the market is set to explode in size in the coming years. Having a true 4th generation threat profile to offer, one that is radar equipped and highly manueverable, is clearly where the field is headed, and Israel's aerospace industry could easily upgrade these jets with modern radars, such as the Elta 2032. In the past Isarel has sold some of its surplus A-4 Skyhawks to adversrary and testing support contractors.

During the jet’s retirement ceremony on December 26th, Colonel Itamar, the commander of Ouvda AFB said these fitting words to commemorate the Netz’ service:

"Today, we say goodbye to an incredible aircraft that seems to have been created by an artist, an aircraft that fits its missions like a glove”

AP

An adversary Netz returns from a training mission.

Lt. Colonel Udi, who commands the much vaunted Red Dragons aggressor squadron, summed up the unique nature of an aircraft that had such a huge impact on Israeli history:

“Today, we sign the last chapter of the 'Netz' aircraft in the IAF… Only those who have touched the aircraft, only those who have been touched by the aircraft, know that the 'Netz' is not just an object - it has a soul.”

Even though the Netz is officially gone from IAF service, you can celebrate the type by watching the ‘80’s cult classic fighter flick Iron Eagle. The film was shot in Israel just a few years after the Netz arrived, and the aircraft is one of the stars of the movie. The film was shot outside the US was because the Pentagon had a policy at the time that the military wouldn't support any Hollywood movie that featured stolen aircraft. Till this day, some of the best air-to-air footage of F-16s can be seen in this film.

Contact the author Tyler@thedrive.com

one su-30mk2 can carry 12 Deliah missiles; say goodbye to that Brahmin missile. Deliah missile is even lighter than the Russian A2A missiles.