Vietnam has many heavy fighter planes.

After receiving all 12 Su-30MK2s at the end of 2015, Vietnam officially surpassed Singapore to become the country with the most heavy fighter jets in Southeast Asia.

Su-27SK fighter jet number 6001 - The first Flanker of the Vietnam Air Force. Photo: People's Army.

According to a report by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), Vietnam is the first country in Southeast Asia to put into service the Su-27 Flanker heavy fighter aircraft produced by the Soviet Union/Russia.

Specifically, during the period 1995 - 1998, Vietnam successively received 12 Su-27SK, Su-27UBK and Su-27PU fighters. This is an air defense fighter version with the NATO designation Flanker B.

In 2003, Vietnam continued to order 4 Su-30MK2 (Flanker G) multi-role fighters under a contract worth about 120 million USD, with delivery completed in 2004.

Compared to the Su-27, the Su-30MK2 has superior ground and water attack capabilities while its air combat power is not inferior.

Su-30MK2 fighter jet number 8534, one of the first four Su-30MK2s of the Vietnam Air Force. Photo: People's Army.

In 2009, Vietnam continued to sign a contract to buy 8 more Su-30MK2s with a total value of about 500 million USD. These aircraft were delivered in the period 2010 - 2011, and are distinguished by their light blue camouflage paint.

Almost parallel to the second Su-30MK2 supply deal was a $1 billion contract for 12 more aircraft signed in 2010, with Russia delivering the full number to Vietnam in 2012.

Although these Su-30MK2s have a new paint color (camouflage green), their configuration is said to be unchanged compared to the first 12.

The Su-30MK2 of the third procurement batch has a different paint color than the first ones. Photo: People's Army.

After putting into service 24 Su-30MK2s, there were opinions that Vietnam would choose a more advanced heavy fighter line such as Su-35S or Su-30SM, but then the package to supply 12 more Su-30MK2s was signed in 2013.

According to information published in the People's Army newspaper, the 12 Su-30MK2s of this purchase will be managed by Regiment 927, and we will receive the full quantity according to the contract by the end of 2015.

Thus, by the end of 2015, the Vietnam People's Air Force had a total of 47 modern Su-27/30 fighter jets in service, officially surpassing Singapore to become the Southeast Asian country possessing the most heavy fighter jets in the region.

F-15SG fighter of the Singapore Air Force. The neighboring country currently has a total of 40 of these heavy fighters in service.

In addition to Singapore, currently in the ASEAN region there is the Malaysian Air Force operating 18 Su-30MKM and the Indonesian Air Force equipped with 5 Su-27SK/SKM and 11 Su-30MK/MK2.

In the future, if we decide to buy more Su-34 or Su-35S, Vietnam's number of heavy fighters will completely surpass the remaining countries.

According to Young Intellectuals