Vietnam's Ground-to-Air Missile Force - No. 1 in ASEAN, top 10 in Asia

Vietnam is the only country in the ASEAN region that possesses ballistic missiles with a range of over 300 km, and is among the few Asian countries equipped with submarine-launched land-attack cruise missiles.

Vietnam's 9P117 Uragan mobile launcher and R-17 Elbrus (Scud B) missile. Photo: QĐND.

Vietnam's military doctrine is built around the strategic goal of firmly protecting national sovereignty, without encroaching on any country.

However, we still have to create for ourselves the necessary deterrence capability, to be able to deter any enemy with evil intentions. Therefore, investing in the ground-to-ground missile force is necessary and the Vietnam People's Army has had ballistic missiles in its inventory quite early.

According to a report by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), in 1981 Vietnam received from the Soviet Union 4 9P117 Uragan mobile launchers and about 25 R-17 Elbrus short-range missiles (also known as Scud B), data for the following years were not published.

Vietnam's 9P117 Uragan mobile launcher and R-17 Elbrus (Scud B) missile. Photo: QĐND.

Then in 2009, in the document "Vietnam People's Army: Modernization and Development" by military researcher - professor Carlyle A. Thayer said: Vietnam had purchased a small number of short-range ballistic missiles Scud C from North Korea in April 1995.

This missile is an improved version of the Scud B, with an increased range of 550 km and a 770 kg warhead. In February 1999, Vietnam entered into further negotiations with North Korea to upgrade its old Scud B tactical ballistic missiles received from the Soviet Union to the more modern Scud C standard.

Thus, in addition to being the first country in Southeast Asia to possess ballistic missiles, Vietnam is also among the few countries capable of launching attacks at a range of over 500 km.

3M-14E land-attack cruise missile.

Although Scud missiles have a long range, great power, and are difficult to intercept, they also have the disadvantage of high error, which can be up to hundreds of meters. Therefore, the decision to buy 3M-14E land-attack cruise missiles along with Kilo submarines is necessary.

Although the 3M-14E missile has a range of only 300 km and carries a 450 km warhead, its error is no more than ten meters. Furthermore, it is highly secretive because the submarine can quietly approach the target and fire, and by the time the enemy discovers it, it is too late.

The Kilo 636 submarine duo and 3M-14E missiles also help Vietnam enter the list of a few countries possessing the ability to launch attacks from under the sea.

Iskander-E - Vietnam's new generation ballistic missile candidate.

In the near future, we may also be equipped with advanced Iskander-E ballistic missiles and domestically produced land-attack cruise missiles based on the KCT 15 anti-ship missile prototype.

Obviously, with its current strength, Vietnam's "Artillery No. 2" force is completely superior to other countries in the Southeast Asian region.

Looking more broadly at the Asian level, if we ignore some countries and territories that have abundant scientific and technological capabilities but are bound by restrictive treaties, the strength of Vietnam's ground-to-ground missile force is only below that of China, India, North Korea, Pakistan, Iran, Saudi Arabia...

According to soha