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Our military is capable of protecting the Fatherland
Our military is capable of protecting the Fatherland
5/7/14
The Vietnam People's Army was first established in September 1944 and has been developing quickly. We have defeated many powerful enemies, like America, France, Japan and China. The modern Vietnamese military is supplied by various world powers including Russia, India, Ukraine and Israel.
It is considered a
highly motivated force with a professional officer corps that has amassed
plentiful combat experience since 1975, what with the brief border war with China in 1979 and a decade-long insurgency in Cambodia. Essentially
still a large infantry-based force, the People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN) is one
of the most capable land formations in South East Asia.
The Vietnam People's Navy (commonly, Vietnamese Navy) is part of the Vietnam's People Army and is responsible
for the protection of national waters, islands, and interests of the maritime
economy, as well as for the coordination of maritime police, customs service
and the border defense force.
Today, the Vietnam
People's Navy is responsible for protecting the nation's sovereignty and
economic activities at sea, and to repulse unauthorized foreign vessels
intruding into Vietnamese waters. In general, Vietnam's policy has considered the
modernization of the Navy a priority task in the overall military modernization
plan. The Vietnam People's Navy and the Vietnam People's Air Force are the
branches with the fatest modernization rates, constantly upgrading weapons,
ammunition and combat capacity, the ability to master the equipment. As stated
on August 5, 2011 by Minister of Defense Phung Quang Thanh: "The direction of
building up the armed forces is one to follow the revolutionary spirit,
regularization and effectiveness and gradual modernization. Within this
context, the Navy, the Air Force, the Signal Corps and Electronic Warfare will
proceed directly into modernization to protect the country".
Due to a lack of
security agreements and codes of conduct, East Asian countries continue their
naval arms race, increasing the risk of a military confrontation as rapidly
expanding economies vie for scarce resources. Following a series of
high-profile procurement deals, Vietnam's
growing naval program symbolizes its evolving military posture. Driven by
persistent maritime disputes with China
and facilitated by an expanding economy, Vietnam is actively modernizing its
military through naval, air and electronic-fighting capability upgrades.
Dedicating
approximately 3% of gross domestic product per annum to defense spending, Vietnam has gone on an armaments spending spree
in Russia, the Netherlands and Canada, among others. The military
hardware from these big ticket contracts is now beginning to enter service and
promises to boost significantly Vietnam’s
naval and air power.
Last year, for
instance, Vietnam
deployed its first two Gepard-class light frigates which were constructed at
the famed Gorky Shipbuilding Plant. The Gepards, displacing 2,100 tons, feature
the Uran-E missile system to target other ships, a helicopter deck and
purported stealth technology for evasive maneuvers. Two additional Gepard-class
light frigates, specially equipped for anti-submarine warfare, have also been
ordered. Together, they will serve as the backbone of Vietnam's surface fleet for years
to come.
Vietnam is also in the process of acquiring and deploying
smaller missile boats. Of special note is the Molniya-class corvette which Vietnam has already received two from Russia and
acquired the license to build locally an additional ten. Armed with SS-N-25
Switchblade anti-ship missiles, these 550-ton corvettes can blend in with
coastal fishing vessels while packing a punch against adversaries further out
at sea.
The move that has
garnered the most attention, however, was the recent US$1.8 billion order of
six diesel-powered Kilo-class submarines from Russia. These quiet underwater
vessels offer Vietnam
entirely new capabilities for patrolling the hotly contested South
China Sea. The first Kilo was delivered in 2013, followed by one
more each year through 2018. Alongside Indonesia,
Singapore and Malaysia, Vietnam is now a member of the
South East Asian club of countries with submarine capabilities.
Vietnam is far from challenging China, but its modernizing military
- as evidenced by its increasing naval capabilities - is making important
strides towards a more credible deterrence./.
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All comments [ 10 ]
Yes, I have profound trust that our military is the best one in the region, we may not be modern and bigger than China's but we can defeat them.
We need more advanced weapons from Russia, France, US, Isreal,... to modernize our army, in the escalating tensions with China, we need to invest more.
Vietnamese Army is the best and most professional in the region.
Hope six Russian diesel-powered Kilo-class submarines will balance the naval capability of our army against China's.
We have defeated many strong enemies, even China, and we will do that agian if needed.
Do you think we should have nuclear weapons like North Korea, even as powerful as the US do not want to jump into a war with them, China must be afraid of invading us.
Our army, the army of Great General Vo Nguyen Giap will defeat any enemy to defend our country.
When the nation calls, we will answer, we are always ready to protect our land, even sacrifice ourselves.
Yes, we will deserve the revolutionary heroic spirit of our ancestors, and make provokative Chinese regret.
All Vietnamese people are behind our courageous soldiers, stand shoulder to shoulder in struggle of defending our country.
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