Since 1996, the Air Defense and Air Force Command has developed two models of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), the M96 and M96D, and since then, Vietnam's UAV manufacturing has achieved great success.
 |
| The greatest achievement in Vietnam's UAV production is considered to be the successful production of the UAV-02. Although researched and manufactured solely for the purpose of targeting aircraft, the creation of this UAV is of particular importance to the Vietnamese Air Force. |
 |
| Equipped with two jet engines, a wingspan of 2.8m, and a fuselage length of 2.5m, the UAV-02 boasts the following design features: a cruising speed of 250-350km/h, an operating radius of 100km, a maximum flight altitude of 8,000m; a weight of 38kg when fully fueled, and a maximum operating time of 45 minutes. |
 |
| The UAV-02 can fly autonomously according to a pre-set program set by the commander. During a coordinated test flight with a Su-30MK2 aircraft of the 923rd Regiment, 371st Air Division, the UAV-02 basically met the requirements. |
 |
| Besides the UAV-02, in 2013, Vietnam's UAV research and development achieved many great successes, including the launch of the VT-Patrol UAV, a product of Viettel. The VT-Patrol, with a wingspan of 3.35m, a length of 2.31m, and a height of 0.78m, is designed using high-quality, durable, and lightweight wood and aerospace composite materials, suitable for Vietnam's military operational needs. |
 |
| Notably, the orbital error was no more than 15m even in strong winds, proving that the automated flight control system (Autopilot) developed by the Air Defense-Air Force Engineering Institute meets world military standards for UAVs. After completing its mission, UAV-02 landed safely and is ready for further test flights. |
 |
| The VT-Patrol has operated along mountain slopes in harsh weather conditions, with temperatures as low as 10 degrees Celsius and foggy conditions. The VT-Patrol uses full HD infrared cameras for reconnaissance, capable of identifying and distinguishing soldier targets within a range of 600 meters. The VT-Patrol can fly at a speed of 110 km/h, with an operating range of 50 km for approximately 2 hours. |
 |
| When the aircraft reaches an altitude above 150m, all aircraft operations will switch to autopilot mode, automatically operated by the operator via the ground control station. Flying along a pre-established route and trajectory, circling the target, and tracking the target can all be performed via the ground control station. |
 |
| The aircraft will transmit information and images in real time. Viettel is planning to produce medium-range unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) with a flight time of 15-24 hours for operational and strategic reconnaissance, and further, other advanced equipment such as missiles to enhance the country's defense capabilities. |
 |
| In early May 2013, the High-Tech Telecommunications and Information Technology Science and Production Union (HTI), under the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, announced the successful testing of a "made in Vietnam" UAV researched and produced by the Institute. |
 |
| The aircraft is equipped with cameras for both day and night operation, as well as other specialized scientific research equipment. Its range can be extended further by using satellite navigation or ground-based relay control stations. |
 |
| Five "made in Vietnam" UAVs were unveiled, each with different specifications and features. The largest model can fly within a radius of 100 km, has a ceiling of 3 km, a maximum speed of 180 km/h, an flight time of 6 hours, and can fly both day and night. |
 |
| Also in 2013, FPT launched a UAV that it had researched and developed itself. This UAV was identified as a VTOL UAV. This is a type of aircraft that is being strongly developed in many countries around the world, and is also beginning to be developed in Vietnam. |
According to Dat Viet Newspaper
