Vietnam strategic plans for building defence capability: Facts and Analysis

[+4vsgorillas-Apebane]

Hmmm.

What I see here is a 'wish list' in Vietnams military shopping account. Add all the items to cart as you wish, the final stage is always the payment screen.

American hardware also comes with a 'terms and conditions' page. A very extensive page.

 

[BoQ77]

@SvenSvensonov : great feedback on the topic.
Actually, I never mentioned on SM-3, but the most pity is SM-6,
We love it.
But SM-2ER isn't bad choice. ESSM is ok
With MK41, the Aster 15/30 is another choice
or we aim to Barak-1/8 or Shtil-1

There's always a way.
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to offer arm sale to Vietnam, US should have in their mind that the potential opposer of Vietnam is more dangerous than the potential enemy of South Korea.

Soviet Union has the better approach to provide Vietnam some new weapons to be tested against US weapons ( in Vietnam War ), as they know to whom their weapons would aim.
So our wish list would be similar to Taiwan list.

the best and the most expensive ones aren't for Vietnam even if US is ready to provide.
Our military budget is quite tight. SM-6 is good for us, but price is quite high.
And we don't pay for SM-3 or THAAD ...

 

[BoQ77]

Recently, in Vietnam news pages, they said F-16 isn't for Spratly operation, because its short combat radius , ie. 550km.
Sir @gambit , as a F-16 airmen, could you define this to us ?
Could F-16 be used in Spratly or SCS effectively ( without air fueling ) by Vietnam ? and vs F-18 ?

 

[BoQ77]

Maritime Patrol Aircrafts like P3C would be the first type Vietnam would buy from Western or US after embargo lifted.

in addition, Vietnam would add long range drones to their fleet to monitor what happening in SCS.

 

[BoQ77]

DN-4000 as guessed

First photo, year ago

 

[BoQ77]

Vietnam bought Israeli Spyder systems for short and medium range SAM.
as mobile platform which is complement to S-125 2TM onsite SAM.

At the same time, Vietnam media reported Vietnam mastered localization of Igla Manpads and now self-developed a new advance type of Manpads

Both said about Air-defence

against jets, helo, UAV, cruise missiles ...

 

[BoQ77]

Let's see what a 2000 ton frigate can do? Is it good for Vietnam to adopt this design ?
SAAR 6
@Carlosa

The Sa'ar 6 has a displacement of 2,000 tons and is 90 m (300 ft) long. It is armed with an Oto Melara 76 mm main gun, two Typhoon Weapon Stations, 32 vertical launch cells for Barak-8 surface-to-air missiles, the C-Dome point defense system, 16 anti-ship missiles, the EL/M-2248 MF-STAR AESA radar, and two 324 mm torpedo launchers. It has hangar space and a platform able to accommodate a medium class SH-60-type helicopter.
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Design of Future TKMS Built Saar 6 MEKO A100 Corvettes for Israeli Navy Unveiled


Israeli web portal Walla! recently published an interview with the head of the Israeli Navy's equipment division, Moshe Zana, who provided some details on the SAAR 6 vessel project ordered from Germany.

Speaking during the Israel Air Force ceremony on December 25th 2014, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that Israel ordered four new patrol vessels from Germany: "Today, I am pleased to announce that three days ago, we added an important component to our defensive force. We purchased four new Saar vessels from Germany". The Israeli Ministry of Defense completed in May 2015 the negotiations for purchase of four patrol boats. The main goal of this new procurement is the protection of Israel's Economic Exclusion Zone (EEZ) where oil and gas production is booming in the sea off west coast of the country. The volume of the transaction is estimated at approximately 430 million euros. (Germany has agreed to fund €115 million of this total).

The future Israeli Navy Saar 6 corvette. Picture: TKMS/Israeli Navy via bmpd.livejournal.com

Early sources from Germany indicated that the future Israeli Navy patrol vessels are based on the MEKO 80 designed and built by German group ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS). MEKO 80 patrol corvette is a slightly reduced version of the MEKO 100 (of which 6 were built for the Royal Malaysian Navy and one under construction in Poland for the Polish Navy).

It appears clear now from the images that Saar 6 vessels will not just be "Patrol Vessels" as initially reported but rather powerful Corvettes with a displacement of about 2,000 tons and a length of about 90 meters.

The future Israeli Navy Saar 6 corvette. Picture: TKMS/Israeli Navy via bmpd.livejournal.com

Saar 6 class corvettes will be heavily armed: They are set to be fitted with up to 40x (most likely 32x) VLS cells for surface to air missile system Barak 8 by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) and C-DOME naval point defense system by Rafael, 16x anti-ship missiles and the MF-STAR multifunction AESA radar by IAI.

The main gun is set to be a 76mm Oto Melara Super Rapid (possibly with Strales guided rounds). In addition, Saar 6 will be fitted with 2x Rafael's Typhoon remote weapon stations and two 324mm torpedo launchers.

Saar 6 corvettes will have hangar space and platform able to accommodate a medium class (SH-60 type) helicopter.

All four vessels are expected to be built in Kiel, Germany (where TKMS is currently assembling 2 other powerfull corvettes, the MEKO A200 AN for Algeria) while systems outfitting (combat management system, sensors and weapons) will most likely be conducted in Israel. The first Saar 6 corvette is set to join the Israeli Navy in 2019.

 

[BoQ77]

Vietnam focused much on the air defence system and nation-wide air warning system.
Everything looks fine now, although some puzzles should be added to visualize the overall picture.

From top to bottom
- Hostile
- International flight
- Military flight
- Domestic flight
- Transit

 

[Oldman1]

Vietnam focused much on the air defence system and nation-wide air warning system.
Everything looks fine now, although some puzzles should be added to visualize the overall picture.

View attachment 323407 View attachment 323408 View attachment 323409 View attachment 323410

From top to bottom
- Hostile
- International flight
- Military flight
- Domestic flight
- Transit

Got a picture of north of Vietnam?

 

[BoQ77]

Post #143
1st pic The North with reference to South China area ( TRung Quoc ) and Hainan island
2nd pic Da Nang with reference to Paracel island ( QD Hoang Sa )
3rd pic Southern with reference to Spratly island ( QD Truong Sa )

 

[BoQ77]

The SCS conflict in near future is the close in sound combat.
So Vietnam gave priority to build more Coast Guard ships and Fishery Surveillance Ships.

Navy with TT-400TP and Fast Attack Crafts - Molniya are for river, littoral and shoreline protection.

The ongoing batch of 2x ASW config. Gepard class would strengthen the detergent capability of Vietnam in SCS in combined with 6 Kilo-class subs

and likely ASW air platform as P3C or ASW C-295 would be considered.

Air cover now only based on Sukhoi fighters .

==================
In conclusion, Vietnam showed less interest to build the frigates in near future.
But paid more for fast response and silent attack forces.

When they need they deploy the forces ( Sukhoi fighters - fast, small FAC - fast, LO, submarines - silent ) to the hot sites as soon and silent as they can, otherwise they are away.

 

[BoQ77]

Enemy Airports, Aircraft Carrier, Gasoline inventory, Harbours ... are among the most attractive targets to Vietnam sappers/commandos during Vietnam War.

USNS Card - aircraft carrier sunk
U-Tapao airbase with US aircrafts incl. B-52, Thailand
Bien Hoa airbase
.... under multiple attacks by Vietnam Commandos

I don't know what EXTRA rockets are for ?

 

[BoQ77]

Now turn back time to the naval marching in May 2015 in Cam Ranh, where the EXTRA rockets was officially introduced as "suitable to operate in condition "sea and island".

So no matter Vietnam confirm or not, the EXTRAs are for deployment in Spratly islands.

Sputnik News reported "that intelligence shows Vietnam moving mobile missile launchers from the mainland to five separate facilities in the Spratly archipelago"

and "The move by Vietnam puts launchers within range of China’s artificial islands at Fiery Cross, Mischief, and Subi Reef."

In summary, with a wise move, some cheap rockets of Vietnam could threaten hundreds billion dollars airports on China artificial islands much more than US FONOP.
@Carlosa
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EXTRA rounds are highly accurate up to a range of 150 km (93 miles), with different 150 kg (330 lb) warheads that can carry high explosives or bomblets to attack multiple targets simultaneously. Operated with targeting drones, they could strike both ships and land targets.
That puts China's 3,000-metre runways and installations on Subi, Fiery Cross and Mischief Reef within range of many of Vietnam's tightly clustered holdings on 21 islands and reefs.

"When Vietnam acquired the EXTRA system, it was always thought that it would be deployed on the Spratlys...it is the perfect weapon for that," said Siemon Wezeman, a senior arms researcher at the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).

Carl Thayer, an expert on Vietnam's military at the Australian Defence Force Academy, said the deployment showed the seriousness of Vietnam's determination to militarily deter China as far as possible.

"China's runways and military installations in the Spratlys are a direct challenge to Vietnam, particularly in their southern waters and skies, and they are showing they are prepared to respond to that threat," he said

Trevor Hollingsbee, a former naval intelligence analyst with the British defense ministry, said he believed the deployment also had a political factor, partly undermining the fear created by the prospect of large Chinese bases deep in maritime Southeast Asia.

"It introduces a potential vulnerability where they was none before - it is a sudden new complication in an arena that China was dominating," he said.

===================================

May 12, 1967 The enemy attacked Bien Hoa airfield with 125 rounds of 122mm rockets, 82mm mortars and 75mm recoilless rifle fire. Results were 6 US killed and 85 wounded. There was also moderate damage to installation, equipment and aircraft. #VietnamWarMemories

Bien Hoa AB
ATTACK: May 12, 1967!
3rd SPS
by Sebastian "Coke" Coco
© 2000

1) Attack on Bien Hoa 05-12-67. Notice the water tower!

2) Close-up of the water tower!
Hot Water tonight!

3) The fireworks continued through the night.

4) ... and when dawn approached...

5) ... we could see our losses. Photos are of an AP hut that
was hit May 12, 1967, killing AP A2c Horace A. Holbrook.

6)

7)

8) Two unknown Air Policemen observe the debris.

 

[BoQ77]

Why C-17 Globemaster is a good choice for Vietnam ?

 

[BoQ77]