Russia is gradually losing one of the largest and most traditional customers of its defense industry in Asia. Vietnam, which for decades has relied almost exclusively on Soviet and Russian weaponry, is accelerating its shift towards Western suppliers, in a clear effort to diversify its military acquisitions.
A strong signal of this shift is the negotiations conducted by Hanoi with France for the acquisition of Rafale fighter jets, according to analysts from the defense consultancy firm Defense Express. If the deal materializes, it would mark a significant break from the historical dependence on Russian military technology.
Currently, the air forces of Vietnam are composed exclusively of Soviet and Russian aircraft, a situation that is also found in other categories of armed forces. However, as early as 2022, the authorities in Hanoi officially announced their intention to diversify their sources of weaponry, in order to reduce dependence on the Russian Federation.
This change of direction is already visible in concrete acquisition decisions. Instead of buying new Russian T-90S tanks, Vietnam has opted for the modernization of its existing fleet of T-54 and T-55 tanks, with the support of Israel. In parallel, Hanoi has ordered from South Korea self-propelled howitzers K9 of 155 mm. According to analysts, these choices indicate a clearer orientation towards NATO standards.
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