Vietnam's modern military weapons, equipment, and defense technology are on display at the Vietnam International Defense Expo 2024, an event organized to share achievements and foster defense industry cooperation among participating nations.

This is the second time the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defense has hosted this significant event, which highlights advancements in the research, production, and use of military equipment.

The 2024 exhibition features over 200 exhibitors across a total area of 25,000 square meters, with both indoor and outdoor display zones. A substantial portion of the outdoor space is dedicated to showcasing newly developed military equipment by Vietnam’s domestic defense industry, including some technologies being exhibited for the first time.

Highlights of the exhibition:

1. Air Defense and Radar Systems: The air defense display includes radar systems developed by Viettel and advanced technologies capable of detecting low-flying targets, drones, helicopters, and cruise missiles.

·        Spyder Air Defense System: A fast-response, mobile surface-to-air missile system that can detect and destroy aerial targets, such as fighter jets, helicopters, cruise missiles, and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), within a 120-kilometer diameter.

·        Scud-B Ballistic Missile System: A Soviet-developed system featuring R-17E ballistic missiles, which measure 11.1 meters in length and have a launch weight of 5.9 tons. The maximum firing range is 300 kilometers.

·        Redut-M Coastal Defense Missile System: A mobile system for engaging surface vessels, sea transport, and coastal installations. The system includes launch vehicles, command units, radar systems, and transport vehicles.

2. Artillery, Tanks, and Ground Forces: The land forces exhibit features a range of heavy artillery and main battle tanks currently in service with the Vietnamese military.

·        T-90S Tank: Operated by a three-man crew, this tank weighs over 46 tons, can reach a speed of 60 km/h, and is armed with a 125mm smoothbore cannon, 7.62mm machine gun, and a 12.7mm anti-aircraft machine gun.

·        T-62 Tank: This tank, with a four-man crew, weighs 37 tons, has a speed of 50 km/h, and is equipped with a 2A20 cannon and machine guns.

·        Self-Propelled Howitzer Systems: 130M-46 Howitzer: Mounted on all-terrain trucks, the 130mm howitzer can fire shells weighing 33.4 kg to a maximum range of 27 kilometers; SU-152 Howitzer: A heavy self-propelled artillery system with a 152mm cannon, capable of firing shells 17.3 kilometers using conventional ammunition.

3. Anti-Submarine and Naval Systems: The naval section showcases Vietnam’s efforts in developing anti-submarine and underwater combat capabilities.

Underwater Training Vehicle (AUV): Designed for sonar training and anti-submarine exercises, this system weighs 320 kilograms and can operate at depths of up to 100 meters at speeds of 4 nautical miles per hour.

Set 40UE Torpedo: A small, electrically powered anti-submarine torpedo, used in training and drills. It is designed for recovery and reuse without combat warheads.

4. Air Force Systems: C-295 Military Transport Aircraft: Used for medium- and short-range transport, this aircraft has a crew of two pilots and can carry up to 71 passengers.

AW189 Helicopter: Operated by Military Unit 18 for missions such as VIP transport, rescue, and cargo transport. It can accommodate 16-19 passengers, with a maximum speed of 270 km/h and a range of 445-845 kilometers depending on terrain conditions.

Small Reconnaissance UAV: A portable, foldable unmanned aerial vehicle developed by Vietnam’s defense industry.

The exhibition also features advanced technologies and equipment across multiple defense sectors:

Air Defense and Air Force Systems: Fighter jets, helicopters, drones, surface-to-air missiles, shoulder-launched air defense systems, and radar systems.

Naval Systems: Submarines, warships, sonar systems, anti-ship missiles, torpedoes, and underwater reconnaissance devices.
Ground Forces Equipment: Infantry weapons, artillery, tanks, armored vehicles, and anti-tank systems.

Security Systems: Biometric solutions, anti-terrorism tools, disaster response systems, and border control technology.
Electronic Warfare and Cyber Defense: Surveillance drones, communication systems, radar systems, and electronic countermeasures.

Logistics and Soldier Protection: Advanced military gear, training simulators, and other national defense solutions.

The exhibition serves as a platform for Vietnam to showcase its progress in defense technology and promote international collaboration in the defense industry.

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The display of air defense vehicles, weapons, and surveillance radars developed by Viettel.

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The components of the Spyder quick-reaction, mobile surface-to-air missile system detect and destroy short-range aerial targets such as fighter jets, helicopters, cruise missiles, and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), protecting an area with a diameter of 120 km.

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The Scud-B ballistic missile system, manufactured by the Soviet Union, is part of Vietnam's artillery inventory. The R-17E is the missile designation within the exported 9K72E Elbrus operational-tactical ballistic missile system. However, it is commonly referred to as the Scud ballistic missile system. The R-17E missile has a length of 11.1 meters, a body diameter of 0.88 meters, and a launch weight of 5.9 tons. Its maximum range can reach up to 300 kilometers.
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The Redut-M missile complex is a mobile coastal defense missile system, deployed on SPU launch vehicles. A Redut-M complex includes a launcher vehicle, a command vehicle, a radar vehicle, and ammunition transport and reload vehicles. Its purpose is to destroy surface ships, sea-based transport vehicles, and structures on islands or coastal areas.
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The ammunition transport vehicle of the Redut missile system.
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The surveillance radar system is a product researched and manufactured by Vietnam; it can detect low-flying targets, UAVs, helicopters, and cruise missiles.
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The V-Elint 18 intelligent ultra-high frequency electronic reconnaissance system, researched, designed, and manufactured by Vietnam, can detect, analyze, locate, and identify targets in the air, at sea, and on land in real time without being detected by the adversary, with a target detection range of up to hundreds of kilometers. Additionally, it has the capability to detect stealth aircraft. The system includes: 1 central receiving and processing station and 3 peripheral receiving stations.

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The T-90S tank, operated by a crew of 3, has a mass of over 46 tons and can reach a speed of 60 km/h. The tank is equipped with a 125mm smoothbore gun that can be loaded either automatically or manually, with an ammunition capacity of 42 rounds. Additionally, the tank features a 7.62mm PKTM machine gun mounted coaxially with the main gun, with 2,000 rounds of ammunition, and a 12.7mm anti-aircraft machine gun.
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The T-62 tank, operated by a crew of 4, has a combat weight of over 37 tons and can reach a speed of 50 km/h. Its weapon system includes the 2A20 gun and the PKT machine gun.
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The 130M-46 self-propelled artillery system, manufactured by Vietnam, is mounted on an all-terrain truck chassis. The M46 cannon features a 130mm caliber, a weight of 7.7 tons, an elevation angle from -3 degrees to 45 degrees, and a horizontal traverse angle of 50 degrees. It can fire shells weighing 33.4 kg with a muzzle velocity of 930 m/s to a maximum range of approximately 27 km.
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The SU-152 self-propelled gun was designed on a heavy tank chassis. It is equipped with a 152mm gun, achieving a firing range of 17.3 km with conventional shells. The projectile weighs 51.5 kg, while the warhead weighs 43.5 kg.
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The underwater target AUV, researched and manufactured by Vietnam, is a product of the Vietnamese Navy designed for sonar training and anti-submarine warfare exercises. It weighs 320 kg, has a maximum operating depth of 100 meters, and a maximum cruising speed of 4 nautical miles per hour.
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The Set 40UE torpedo is a small-sized electric anti-submarine torpedo, used from anti-submarine surface ships or submarines equipped with small launch tubes. It is currently used by the military for training and exercises. It is designed to be recovered and reused, and does not carry a combat warhead.
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The C-295 military transport aircraft, part of the Air Defense – Air Force service, is used for medium- and short-range transport. The crew consists of 2 pilots, and it can carry up to 71 passengers.
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The AW189 helicopter, currently in the inventory of Brigade 18, performs missions such as VIP flights, search and rescue, passenger and cargo transport. It can carry 16-19 people, with a maximum speed of 270 km/h and a range of 445-845 km depending on terrain conditions.
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A small reconnaissance UAV, which can be folded, developed by Vietnam's defense industry.

Tran Thuong - Pham Hai