Will Vietnam buy AW159 helicopters before Eurofighter Typhoon?

British Ambassador Giles Lever recently said that Vietnam and the UK are having initial discussions on the issue of arms trading.

In mid-2015, along with the information that Vietnam was conducting a number of negotiations with foreign partners to purchase new generation light fighters to replace the MiG-21 (notably the two candidates Eurofighter Typhoon, JAS 39 Gripen), the IHS Jane's Defense Magazine also reported that AgustaWestland Company (a British-Italian joint venture) was conducting preliminary negotiations on supplying AW159 helicopters to the Vietnam Navy.

According to many assessments from military experts, the AW159 Wildcat is one of the best anti-submarine helicopters in the world today.

Its most notable changes are the 4-blade composite propeller, the wide cockpit door, the larger nose to accommodate optical equipment, and the rear fuselage with more space for electronic warfare systems.

The AW159 Wildcat is equipped with advanced sonar, Seaspray 7000 radar, jamming system, communication system... this helicopter can automatically search and monitor targets above or below the sea surface.

The AW159 Wildcat's weapons are diverse, including Sting Ray torpedoes (or American and European torpedoes), depth charges, rockets, air-to-surface missiles, and anti-tank missiles. In addition, it can also carry FASGW anti-ship missiles, capable of destroying escort ships, high-speed boats, or small targets at sea.

AW159 Wildcat anti-submarine helicopter

The news that Vietnam is interested in the AW159 has attracted special attention because not long before, the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) published a report on the world's defense procurement situation, including the deal for Vietnam to purchase two SIGMA 9814 frigates from the Netherlands.

This leads to the assumption that the AW159 will be chosen by the Vietnamese Navy to coordinate anti-submarine warfare with the SIGMA 9814, because this class of warship has a hangar and is capable of carrying helicopters on long voyages.

However, when the SIGMA deal reached a dead end, the prospect of AW159 helicopters being present in Vietnam is almost impossible.

But then when the US completely lifted the embargo on lethal weapons, the P-3C Orion aircraft became the number 1 candidate to be selected as the main force for the professional anti-submarine force of the Vietnam Navy Air Force.

When choosing a Western weapon as the main force, it is inevitable that there will be a need for support vehicles that also meet this standard. Therefore, purchasing new anti-submarine helicopters instead of using the Ka-28 as a "companion" to the P-3C Orion is quite reasonable.

According to the latest developments, when Vietnam and the UK had official discussions regarding the issue of purchasing weapons and equipment, the opportunity for the AW159 has returned.

If the two sides decide to proceed with the deal, it is possible that Vietnam will order this state-of-the-art helicopter from the UK before the Eurofighter Typhoon, at least in the aspect that it is almost the only candidate that has been put on the list of interest.

But now, we need to closely monitor when the P-3C Orion will be received by Vietnam, this is a necessary and mandatory condition!

According to Baodatviet