Chinese expert: Vietnam may purchase US amphibious assault ships and Apache helicopters.

Colonel Du Wenlong, a senior research expert at the Chinese Academy of Military Science, believes that if the US lifts the arms embargo, Vietnam could purchase A-10 attack aircraft and AH-64 attack helicopters.

The American AH-64 Apache attack helicopter. (Illustrative image)

In an interview with CCTV, Colonel Du Wenlong, a senior research expert at the Chinese Academy of Military Science, assessed that in the future, when the United States lifts its ban on the sale of lethal weapons to Vietnam, Vietnam will need deterrent weapons and equipment to equip its air and naval forces in order to improve its combat capabilities in the air and at sea.

Do Van Long argued that Vietnam needs two types of weapons and equipment from the United States in the immediate future: firstly, equipment that can help protect its rights and interests; and secondly, weapons and equipment to equip forces such as the air force and navy throughout the country to create a deterrent effect.

Expert Long noted that Vietnam is seeking to acquire weapons for its air force, navy, and amphibious landing forces. Most of the helicopters Vietnam currently uses are either World War II-era replicas or war trophies from the US from the 1970s, such as the UH-1. If Vietnam were equipped with A-10 attack aircraft and AH-64 Apache attack helicopters, it would have the capability to accurately control targets and enhance its reconnaissance and target detection capabilities in the South China Sea.

Furthermore, due to the specific needs of the Vietnamese military for amphibious landings to improve its offensive and landing capabilities, Vietnam may acquire older landing ships from the US, such as Wasp-class landing ships, or other types of landing craft and vehicles. Along with the purchase of additional weapons and equipment from the United States, the combat capabilities of the Vietnamese military would be greatly enhanced. Vietnam may also purchase radar systems, such as maritime surveillance, reconnaissance, and early warning radar systems, which, through a range of remote monitoring and early warning, enhance maritime navigation in the South China Sea and aerial reconnaissance capabilities.

According to Soha