Carl Thayer, an analyst on the South China Sea at the
Australian Defence Force Academy, said Vietnam already has Russian Sukhoi Su-27
and Su-30 fighter jets but its air force is in need of an upgrade.
“Vietnam badly needs modern maritime reconnaissance aircraft
to patrol its vast maritime domain,” he said. “Reports that Vietnam has
canvassed widely with European and American defence contractors fits its
profile of extensive market research and bargaining for the best package deal.”
Vietnam spent $3.4 billion US dolars (£2.2bn) on defense in
2013, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, and
has close to half a million ground forces. Ian Storey, from Singapore’s Institute of
South East Asian Studies, said Vietnam wants to reduce its military dependence
on Moscow before the Chinese government puts pressure on Russia to reduce
weapons sales.
“Although Hanoi knows that its military will always be
outnumbered and outgunned by China’s, a strong navy and air force provides it
with a limited deterrence and, if push comes to shove, the ability to give
China a bloody nose in battle,” Storey said.
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