Vietnam possesses the largest number of heavy fighter jets in Southeast Asia.

According to Flight International magazine's 'World Air Forces 2017' report, Vietnam has 46 Su-27/30 heavy fighter jets, the most in Southeast Asia.

According to the report, the number of aircraft in service with the Vietnam Air Force (VAF) has not changed significantly compared to the 2015 report. However, the number of Su-27/30 fighter jets in the VAF has increased by 3.

Flight International may have reported the delivery of four additional Su-30MK2s during the year, but this figure omitted the one Su-30MK2 that crashed during training in mid-2016.

Vietnamese Su-30 fighter jets.

Meanwhile, the number of L-39 training aircraft also decreased by one, from 26 to 25, possibly because Flight International's statistics were updated in time to reflect the accident involving a Vietnamese Air Force L-39 that crashed during training in 2016.

According to the Flight International report, Vietnam possesses a total of 46 Su-27/30 heavy fighter jets, the largest number in Southeast Asia in terms of heavy combat aircraft.

Regarding the modernization process of the Vietnamese Air Force, the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) stated that between 1995 and 1998, Vietnam received 12 Su-27SK, Su-27UBK, and Su-27PU fighter jets. These are air defense fighter versions with the NATO designation Flanker B.

In 2003, Vietnam continued its order for four Su-30MK2 (Flanker G) multirole fighter aircraft under a contract worth approximately $120 million, 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.

In 2009, Vietnam signed another contract to purchase eight Su-30MK2 aircraft with a total value of approximately $500 million. These aircraft were delivered between 2010 and 2011, and are identifiable by their light blue camouflage paint scheme.

Almost simultaneously with the second Su-30MK2 delivery, a $1 billion contract for 12 more aircraft was signed in 2010, with Russia delivering the full quantity to Vietnam in 2012. These Su-30MK2s, although sporting a new paint scheme (green camouflage), are believed to have the same configuration as the first 12.

After commissioning all 24 Su-30MK2s, there were suggestions that Vietnam would choose a more advanced heavy fighter such as the Su-35S or Su-30SM, but then a package for another 12 Su-30MK2s was signed in 2013.

Besides Singapore, the Malaysian Air Force currently operates 18 Su-30MKM aircraft, and the Indonesian Air Force is equipped with 5 Su-27SK/SKM and 11 Su-30MK/MK2 aircraft.

In the future, if we decide to purchase more Su-30SM or Su-35S aircraft, Vietnam's number of heavy fighter jets will completely surpass that of other countries.

According to Baodatviet