Vietnam has officially received two NC-212i aircraft.
Images recently recorded at Gia Lam airport show that two NC-212i planes with registration numbers 8991 and 8992 have arrived in Vietnam.
As previously reported, the Vietnam Air Force has signed a contract to purchase three more NC-212i maritime patrol and transport aircraft, which will be assembled at the Bandung Factory in Indonesia after the Airbus production line in Spain closed.
In November 2017, images of the NC-212i maritime patrol and transport aircraft assembled by Indonesia under Vietnam's order appeared, performing its first test flight, at that time still wearing its characteristic yellow paint.
On January 9, 2018, in a report on an Indonesian TV channel, the NC-212i had a new paint job, showing that it was 100% complete and could be delivered in the near future.
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| NC-212i maritime patrol and transport aircraft just arrived in Vietnam this morning |
And this morning, May 22, photos capturing the moment this pair of NC-212i planes landed at Gia Lam airport, the base of Air Force Brigade 918, appeared.
This new NC-212i has the air force's paint color, very similar to the C-295Ms currently in service with the 18th Corps, with the words Vietnam Air Force on the side, instead of the white and blue color of the Coast Guard as before.
More specifically, the aircraft is still fully integrated with reconnaissance and maritime patrol equipment. It can be predicted that its mission will be to transport and build an air bridge connecting the mainland with remote islands.
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| The second NC-212i with registration number 8992 landed at Gia Lam airport. |
Thus, Vietnam's C-212/NC-212i fleet has now increased to 4 aircraft. In the near future, we will receive the remaining NC-212i after it completes performance evaluation tests in Indonesia.
In addition to the NC-212i line, it is known that the Vietnam Air Force still has orders for 3 more C-295 light transport aircraft (most likely the latest C-295W version) assembled in Europe.
The addition of these modern transport and maritime patrol aircraft will positively contribute to the strength of the Vietnam Air Force and Coast Guard in particular, as well as the position to protect the sacred sovereignty of the Fatherland's seas and islands in general.
