Russian newspaper: Vietnam interested in new frigates

Rear Admiral Vladimir Bogdashin said that Vietnam is currently interested in Russia's new corvette project with many outstanding features.

In recent years, Vietnam has diversified its relations in the fields of security, defense and security, and Russia remains one of Vietnam's main partners, Sputnik reported.

On the other hand, the Vietnamese market in particular, as well as Southeast Asia in general, is one of the main destinations for exports of the Russian defense industry.

According to Mr. Alexander Mikheev, General Director of Rosoboronexport, the markets of Southeast Asian countries have shown high growth: "This region — has large economies in the world: Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Vietnam…

In the region there is a high demand for Russian military aviation complexes, helicopters, air defense missile systems (for example, "Pantsir", S-400, "Buk").

At the same time, in these countries there is a demand for the creation of a "security infrastructure system". Russian industry is ready to supply the most modern systems. We do not intend to lose the Southeast Asian market.

Destroyer "Gepard-3.9". Photo Sputnik

Head of the Foreign Affairs Department of "Rosoboronexport" Viktor Brakunov also told the Russian media that Southeast Asia is one of the priorities for "Rosoboronexport":

"Southeast Asia is currently one of the priority regions of "Rosoboronexport". Since the early 2000s, military-technical cooperation with countries in the region has been developing rapidly.

Companies actively cooperate with Vietnam, Indonesia, the Philippines, and build cooperation prospects with Thailand."

Mr. Brakunov also added that the most interested products in Southeast Asia are Su-30 and Su-35 multi-role fighters, Yak-130 training aircraft, Ka-52 and Mi-28 NE combat helicopters, Mi-17 military transport helicopters, and "Orlan-10E" and "Tachyon" UAV unmanned aerial vehicles.

Also, attention is paid to the project 11356 destroyer, the submarines "Amur — 1650" and 636, as well as weapon systems for warships and submarines.

Regional ground forces have shown interest in T-90S tanks, BMP-3M infantry fighting vehicles, BTR-80, BTR-82A armored personnel carriers, anti-tank weapons. Russian air defense systems of various ranges are also in steady demand in the regional market.

Vietnam interested in Russia's new frigate project

In the field of direct military-technical cooperation with Vietnam, 2017 was marked by a number of important events.

According to Sputnik, Vietnam is currently interested in the latest Russian corvettes of projects 20.380 and 20.385 with outstanding anti-submarine and air defense capabilities (air defense missile systems with different ranges).

Russian naval warfare expert Rear Admiral Vladimir Bogdashin agrees with this: "The attack missile system with 16 missiles is a significant power for a ship with the displacement of "Gepard".

However, the air defense system it is equipped with is only a means of self-defense. A small destroyer with a powerful "long arm" to attack, cannot completely protect itself...

Warships must have their own medium-range (150-180 km) air defense system… In all likelihood, judging by the current situation, the Vietnamese are justified in considering the Project 20385 corvette, which is equipped with a powerful air defense and attack missile system with a range of 30 to 150 km. It can protect a group of warships from air attack without additional costs.

However, these orders from Vietnam are still future plans.

According to Baodatviet