30 July 2012 | ChinaDaily.cn
The Spratlys, one of the largest island chains in the South China Sea, is claimed in whole or in part by China,
Taiwan, Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia and Brunei. Small military forces from the first five countries are stationed
on 45 of its islands.
The flights by fighters from the Vietnam People's Air Force over the Spratlys are routine and will continue, according
to the Vietnamese military officials. The country's air force is seeking to modernize by purchasing new aircraft to
replace its cold war-era fighters such as the MiG-21, MiG-23 and Su-22. Although Vietnam has the largest air force in
Southeast Asia in terms of number of aircraft, its planes are not able to match those used by Singapore, Thailand and
Malaysia.
Because of the arms embargo imposed by the United States, Vietnam's only option is to buy fighters from Russia.
After taking delivery of 12 Su-27 and four Su-30MK2V planes from Russia, Hanoi signed another contract with Moscow
to purchase 12 more Su-30MK2V aircraft in 2009. The Vietnamese government plans to purchase a total number of 72
Su-30s from Russia to equip its three fighter divisions. This modernization plan may not help the Vietnamese air force
defeat China's PLA Air Force in a future conflict, according to China Radio International.
See Related Video:- http://youtu.be/gKoW3CLY0lU
<a href="http://s1267.photobucket.com/albums/jj559/365Wildfire/?action=view&current=Su-30MK2V_FAV_01.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1267.photobucket.com/albums/jj559/365Wildfire/Su-30MK2V_FAV_01.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
The 12 Su-27 fighters can only play only a limited role in missions supporting Vietnamese ground and naval forces due to
the limitation of its payload. They cannot conduct long-range missions because they are not able to be refueled in mid-air.
Without information provided by early warning aircraft, even the more advanced Su-30MK2Vs would be unable to attack
effectively in formation. Even if Vietnam is successful in acquiring 72 Su-30 fighters by 2015, the overall combat effectiveness
of its air force will still not be greatly enhanced, the Chinese media report said.
Meanwhile, Vietnam has continued to receive 3 more advanced fighters Su-30MK2, in total Vietnam has 23 Su-30MK2 because
one of the aircraft crashed during trial test in Russia.
In addition, Vietnam still has two outstanding contracts with Komsomolsk-on-Amur Aircraft Production Association for another
20 Su-30MK2.
First, the total cost of about $ 400 million, provides for the delivery of eight Su-30MK2. The second contract is worth a billion
dollars and Vietnamese Air Force will receive 12 Su-30MK2.
These contracts also provided for the supply of weapons, equipment and spare parts for these aircraft.
The Spratlys, one of the largest island chains in the South China Sea, is claimed in whole or in part by China,
Taiwan, Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia and Brunei. Small military forces from the first five countries are stationed
on 45 of its islands.
The flights by fighters from the Vietnam People's Air Force over the Spratlys are routine and will continue, according
to the Vietnamese military officials. The country's air force is seeking to modernize by purchasing new aircraft to
replace its cold war-era fighters such as the MiG-21, MiG-23 and Su-22. Although Vietnam has the largest air force in
Southeast Asia in terms of number of aircraft, its planes are not able to match those used by Singapore, Thailand and
Malaysia.
Because of the arms embargo imposed by the United States, Vietnam's only option is to buy fighters from Russia.
After taking delivery of 12 Su-27 and four Su-30MK2V planes from Russia, Hanoi signed another contract with Moscow
to purchase 12 more Su-30MK2V aircraft in 2009. The Vietnamese government plans to purchase a total number of 72
Su-30s from Russia to equip its three fighter divisions. This modernization plan may not help the Vietnamese air force
defeat China's PLA Air Force in a future conflict, according to China Radio International.
See Related Video:- http://youtu.be/gKoW3CLY0lU
<a href="http://s1267.photobucket.com/albums/jj559/365Wildfire/?action=view&current=Su-30MK2V_FAV_01.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1267.photobucket.com/albums/jj559/365Wildfire/Su-30MK2V_FAV_01.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
The 12 Su-27 fighters can only play only a limited role in missions supporting Vietnamese ground and naval forces due to
the limitation of its payload. They cannot conduct long-range missions because they are not able to be refueled in mid-air.
Without information provided by early warning aircraft, even the more advanced Su-30MK2Vs would be unable to attack
effectively in formation. Even if Vietnam is successful in acquiring 72 Su-30 fighters by 2015, the overall combat effectiveness
of its air force will still not be greatly enhanced, the Chinese media report said.
Meanwhile, Vietnam has continued to receive 3 more advanced fighters Su-30MK2, in total Vietnam has 23 Su-30MK2 because
one of the aircraft crashed during trial test in Russia.
In addition, Vietnam still has two outstanding contracts with Komsomolsk-on-Amur Aircraft Production Association for another
20 Su-30MK2.
First, the total cost of about $ 400 million, provides for the delivery of eight Su-30MK2. The second contract is worth a billion
dollars and Vietnamese Air Force will receive 12 Su-30MK2.
These contracts also provided for the supply of weapons, equipment and spare parts for these aircraft.
