Since the Vietnam War, most Vietnamese aircraft were supplied by the Soviet Union and later Russia, while hundreds of others were left by the United States via South Vietnam. Most of these are no longer in service either due to the inavailability of parts or the age of the aircraft.
To decrease its dependence on Russian weapons as the nation moves towards modernisation, Vietnam has begun to explore the purchase of American and European aircraft, especially due to its conflict in the South China Sea with its former Communist ally China.[1][2]
Aircraft[]
Current[]
Aircraft | Type | Variants | Origin | Quantity | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Fighter aircraft | |||||
Sukhoi Su-22 | Fighter-bomber | Su-22M4/UM3K | 34[3] | ||
Sukhoi Su-27 | Multirole fighter | Su-27SK/UBK/PU | 11[4] | ||
Su-30MK2 | Su-30MK2V | 35[4][5] | Regiment 935: 12[6] Regiment 923: 12[7] Regiment 927: 12[8] One lost in crash[9] | ||
Maritime patrol aircraft | |||||
PZL M-28 | MPA | PZL M-28B Bryza | ![]() |
1[3] | |
Cargo/Transport aircraft | |||||
An-26 Curl | Military transport | An-26 | 30[3] | ||
CASA C-295 | Military transport | C-295 | ![]() |
3[3] | |
CASA C-212 | Military transport | NC-212i | ![]() |
2[3] | |
Helicopters | |||||
Ka-32 | Utility | Ka-32 | 2[3] | ||
Mil Mi-8/Mil Mi-17 | Mil Mi-8MT Mil Mi-17SH |
87[3] | |||
Mi-24 Hind | Attack | Mil Mi-24A | 25[3] | ||
Bell UH-1 Iroquois | Utility | UH-1H | 14[3] | ||
Trainer aircraft | |||||
Yak-130 | Trainer | 12 on order[10] | |||
Aero L-39 Albatros | Trainer | L-39C | ![]() |
31[3] | |
Unmanned aerial vehicle | |||||
VT Patrol | Reconnaissance | VT Patrol | ![]() |
unknown | |
HS-6L | HS-6L | unknown | |||
Orbiter 2 | Orbiter 2 | ![]() |
unknown |
Munitions[]
Model | Type | Variants | Origin | Quantity | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Air-to-air missile (AAM) | |||||
AA-2 Atoll | Short-range air-to-air missile | R-3SM | 2,300[11] | Used by Sukhoi Su-22M4/M3. Formerly used by MiG-21bis/UM/bison. | |
AA-8 Aphid | R-60M | 400[11] | Used by Su-22M4/M3. Formerly used by MiG-21bis/UM/bison. | ||
AS-9 Kyle | Air-launched anti-radiation missile | Kh-28E | unknown | Used by Su-22M4. | |
AA-11 Archer | Short-range air-to-air missile | R-73 | 375[11] | Used by Su-30MK2V and Su-27SK. | |
AA-12 Adder | Medium-range active-radar homing air-to-air missile | R-77 | unknown | Used by Su-30MK2V and Su-27SK.[12] | |
Air-to-surface missile (ASM) | |||||
AS-10 Karen | Tactical air-to-surface missile | Kh-25ML Kh-25MP Kh-35MPU Kh-25MR |
unknown | Used by Su-22M4. | |
Anti-ship missile (AShM) | |||||
AS-14 Kedge | Anti-ship missile | Kh-29T Kh-29TE |
100[11] | Used by Su-30MK2V and Su-27SK. | |
AS-13 Kingbolt | Kh-59E | 200[11] | Used by Su-30MK2V. | ||
AS-17 Krypton | Kh-31A Kh-31P |
100[11] | Used by Su-30MK2V and Su-27SK. |
Air defence[]
Model | Type | Variants | Origin | Quantity | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Surface-to-air missile (SAM) | |||||
SA-2 Guideline | Strategic surface-to-air missile | S-75M Volga | 65[11] | ||
SA-3 Goa | 40[11] | ||||
SA-6 Gainful | 10[11] | ||||
SA-10 Grumble | 12 launchers[13] | ||||
SA-13 Gopher | 20[11] | ||||
SA-7 Grail | MANPAD | 80[11] | [14] | ||
SA-18 Grouse | SA-16 SA-18 |
450[11] | |||
SPYDER | SHORAD | SPYDER-MR | ![]() |
6 systems 200 Python-5/200 Derby missiles[11] |
|
Anti-aircraft warfare | |||||
ZSU-23-4 Shilka | SPAG | 100[11] | |||
ZSU-57-2 Ob'yekt 500 | 100[11] |
Former[]
Aircraft | Type | Variants | Origin | Quantity | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Fighter aircraft | |||||
MiG-17 Fresco | Fighter | MiG-17A/P/PF | 367 | ||
MiG-19 Farmer | ~45 | ||||
MiG-21 Fishbed | MiG-21bis/UM/bison/PF/PFM/MF/F-13/UM | 645 | Retired from service in November 2015.[15] Replaced with Su-22. | ||
Shenyang J-5 | ![]() |
10 | The Vietnamese Air Force used J-5s alongside the Soviet supplied MiG-17s for interception missions until the 1990s when they were retired, along with the remaining MiG-19s, being replaced with newer MiG-21s and Su-27s. | ||
Shenyang J-6 | 30 | ||||
Northrop F-5 | F-5A, F-5E | 399 | Captured during Vietnam War. | ||
Cessna A-37 Dragonfly | Light ground-attack | A-37A A-37B |
77 | Captured during Vietnam War. | |
Cargo/transport aircraft | |||||
Lockheed C-130 Hercules | Transport | 500 | Captured during Vietnam War. | ||
Fairchild C-119 | Captured during Vietnam War. | ||||
Beriev Be-12 | 43 | [16] | |||
Training aircraft | |||||
MiG-15 Fagot | Trainer | 6,000 | |||
Aero L-29 | Trainer | ![]() |
|||
Helicopters | |||||
Mi-4 | Transport | ||||
Mi-6 Hook | Mil Mi-6 | 26 | |||
CH-47 Chinook | CH-47A | unknown | Captured during Vietnam War. |
See also[]
References[]
- ↑ "Exclusive: Vietnam eyes Western warplanes, patrol aircraft to counter China". 5 June 2015. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-vietnam-airforce-exclusive-idUSKBN0OL04U20150605. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
- ↑ Robert Farley (16 January 2016). "A Coming Shift in Vietnamese Military Aviation?". The Diplomat. http://thediplomat.com/2016/01/a-coming-shift-in-vietnamese-military-aviation/. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 3.8 3.9 "World Air Forces 2020". Flightglobal Insight. 2020. https://www.flightglobal.com/reports/world-air-forces-2020/135665.article. Retrieved 10 December 2019.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Peace Research Institute". Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. 2017. http://armstrade.sipri.org/armstrade/page/trade_register.php. Retrieved 11 May 2018.
- ↑ Su-30s in VPAF service
- ↑ "’Hổ mang chúa’ Su-30MK2 xuất kích canh giữ Tết Việt Nam" (in Vietnamese). Báo Đất Việt. 10 February 2013. http://baodatviet.vn/hinh-anh/201302/Ho-mang-chua-Su-30MK2-xuat-kich-canh-giu-Tet-Viet-Nam-2341544/. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
- ↑ "Thủ tướng kiểm tra tên lửa cho Su-30MK2" (in Vietnamese). Báo Đất Việt. 29 January 2013. http://baodatviet.vn/hinh-anh/201301/Thu-tuong-kiem-tra-ten-lua-cho-Su-30MK2-2214697/?p=17. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
- ↑ "Báo TQ đưa cảnh phi công Việt Nam lái Su-30MK2V" (in Vietnamese). Báo Đất Việt. 2 April 2013. http://www.baodatviet.vn/hinh-anh/201304/Bao-TQ-dua-canh-phi-cong-Viet-Nam-lai-Su-30MK2V-2344533/?p=6. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
- ↑ http://defense-studies.blogspot.my/2016/06/su-30mk2-of-vpaf-will-be-suspended-for.html
- ↑ https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2020/01/29/vietnam-orders-350m-combat-training-jets-from-russia-vedomosti-a69074
- ↑ 11.00 11.01 11.02 11.03 11.04 11.05 11.06 11.07 11.08 11.09 11.10 11.11 11.12 11.13 11.14 "SIPRI arms transfer database". Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. 6 November 2013. http://armstrade.sipri.org/armstrade/page/trade_register.php. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
- ↑ Bình Nguyên (20 April 2016). "Su-30MK2 VN đã đưa tên lửa RVV-AE tối tân vào trực chiến" (in Vietnamese). Soha News. http://soha.vn/su-30mk2-vn-da-dua-ten-lua-rvv-ae-toi-tan-vao-truc-chien-20160419103515108.htm. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
- ↑ Sergei Blagov (5 September 2003). "Russian missiles to guard skies over Vietnam". Asia Times. http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Central_Asia/EI05Ag02.html. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
- ↑ "Hỏa thần Việt Nam khiến Mỹ khiếp sợ (kỳ 3)" (in Vietnamese). Zing.vn. Báo Mới. 23 January 2013. Archived from the original on 27 April 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160427035902/http://www.baomoi.com/hoa-than-viet-nam-khien-my-khiep-so-ky-3/c/10251687.epi. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
- ↑ "KQND Việt Nam chuẩn bị vĩnh biệt tiêm kích MiG-21". Nguyễn Tấn Dũng. 18 November 2015. http://nguyentandung.org/kqnd-viet-nam-chuan-bi-vinh-biet-tiem-kich-mig-21.html. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
- ↑ "Đông Nam Á tăng cường năng lực cảnh báo, chống ngầm" (in Vietnamese). Báo Đất Việt. 22 February 2012. Archived from the original on 27 March 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120327193100/http://quocphong.baodatviet.vn/Home/QPCN/Dong-Nam-A-tang-cuong-nang-luc-canh-bao-chong-ngam/20122/192869.datviet. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
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The original article can be found at List of equipment of the Vietnam People's Air Force and the edit history here.