Vietnam produces smart bombs

Along with producing anti-aircraft and anti-ship missiles, Vietnam is currently planning to turn conventional bombs into smart bombs.

In an article about the achievements of the Air Defense - Air Force Technical Institute recently, the People's Army Online Newspaper revealed some research directions for manufacturing new weapons products made in Vietnam in the near future.

"In the coming time, the institute's development strategy will focus on researching, designing, and manufacturing key, strong products, such as: Continuing to test new types of radar (3D phased array radar); developing unmanned aircraft for military training and other economic and social purposes;

research and manufacture of solid rocket fuel; improve conventional bombs into smart bombs; design and manufacture short-range missile complexes using P-13M aviation missiles...", the People's Army Newspaper reported.

Vietnam test-fires domestically produced air defense missile.

This is clearly good news for the Vietnamese defense industry and military. However, before posting this information, Vietnam had successfully produced the TL-01 air defense missile and the KCT-15 anti-ship missile with the help of Vietnam.

So after a period of implementation, the Project "Manufacturing low-altitude air defense missile TL-01" (Vietnamese version of the Igla missile produced by Russia) has achieved amazing results and is truly a great step forward in gradually becoming self-sufficient in the supply of modern weapons of the Vietnam People's Army.

According to the Young World newspaper, this missile assembly production line has now gone into production, starting to provide modern products, contributing to a gradual fundamental change in the quality of low-altitude air defense forces, mainly replacing the A-72 and A-87 missiles that have expired.

Before this information appeared, in early 2015, Vietnam had successfully researched and manufactured a main electronic component of the Igla missile complex type 9P516. To successfully manufacture, the research team had mastered the technology and manufactured 6 electronic blocks that met foreign technical standards; and transferred them to domestic factories for assembly into the launch mechanism.

The authors have also completed design documents and technology documents for manufacturing electronic blocks suitable for the skills of Vietnamese technicians and workers. Based on mastering the technology, scientists have also researched, improved, and localized the 9P516 type electronic block.

As a result, 2/4 of the electronic block boards have been completely localized (produced from domestic materials and components), tested for compatibility and functioned well with the prototype boards in the launch mechanism; the remaining 2 boards are being researched in the direction of using domestic components combined with foreign ones, with initial good results.

The research, design and successful manufacture of the 9P516 electronic block has high practical significance, helping to master technology, proactively source components and materials; reduce dependence on foreign experts, contributing to improving the quality of technical assurance work and combat readiness.

KCT 15 rocket is produced by Vietnam.

Along with these successes, Vietnam has also successfully produced the KCT-15 anti-ship missile with the help of Russia. According to the Ukrainian defense website Defenceblog, the Russian Tactical Missile Corporation (KTRV) has transferred to Vietnam the designs of different missile versions according to Vietnam's request.

Accordingly, it is not clear how much capital Vietnam will contribute, but the missiles will be produced in Vietnam in very large quantities, about 3,000 KCT-15 anti-ship missiles. In addition, Vietnam also has the right to export to any country in need, just like India exports BrahMos missiles.

The KCT-15 missile and launcher look very similar to the 3M24-E (Kh-35E) Uran-E anti-ship missile produced in Russia. Since 2013, Vietnam has begun to receive Kh-35E missile technology transfer from Russia to produce this type of missile itself.

According to some experts, the KCT-15 anti-ship missile produced by Vietnam can apply the latest technologies on the Uran-UE version.

The most notable thing about the Uran-UE variant is that thanks to the new engine, the addition of a satellite-based guidance mechanism and optimized flight trajectory, although the size of the missile and warhead remains unchanged, the range of the Uran-UE has increased to 260km.

However, according to some sources, the KCT-15 missile can reach a range of up to 300km and carry a 300kg warhead (compared to 130km and a 145kg warhead of Russia).

According to Baodatviet