Vietnam has officially received two NC-212i aircraft.
Images recently captured at Gia Lam airport show that two NC-212i aircraft, numbered 8991 and 8992, have arrived in Vietnam.
As previously reported, the Vietnamese Air Force has signed a contract to purchase three more NC-212i transport and maritime patrol aircraft, which will be assembled at the Bandung plant in Indonesia after Airbus's production line in Spain closed down.
In November 2017, images emerged of the NC-212i transport and maritime patrol aircraft, assembled in Indonesia for Vietnam under an order, making its first test flight; at that time, it still bore its distinctive yellow paint scheme.
On January 9, 2018, in a report on Indonesian television, the NC-212i was shown with a new paint scheme, indicating that it was 100% complete and ready for delivery in the near future.
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| The NC-212i transport and maritime patrol aircraft arrived in Vietnam this morning. |
And this morning, May 22nd, photos capturing the moment these two NC-212i aircraft landed at Gia Lam airport, the base of the 918th Air Force Brigade, have emerged.
This new NC-212i sports an air force livery, very similar to the C-295M aircraft currently in service with the 18th Air Force, along with the words "Vietnam Air Force" on the side, instead of the previous white and blue colors of the Coast Guard.
More specifically, the aircraft is still fully integrated with reconnaissance and maritime patrol equipment. It can be predicted that its mission will be transportation, establishing an air bridge connecting the mainland with remote islands.
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| The second NC-212i, with registration number 8992, has landed at Gia Lam airport. |
Thus, Vietnam's C-212/NC-212i fleet has now increased to four aircraft. In the near future, we will receive the remaining NC-212i after it completes performance evaluation tests in Indonesia.
Besides the NC-212i, it is known that the Vietnamese Air Force still has an order for three more C-295 light transport aircraft (most likely the latest C-295W version) to be assembled in Europe.
The addition of these modern transport and maritime patrol aircraft will make a positive contribution to the strength of the Vietnamese Air Force and Coast Guard in particular, as well as to the overall defense posture for protecting the sacred sovereignty of the Fatherland's seas and islands in general.
