As part of its efforts to expand its domestic industry and possibly export military equipment, Vietnam will display locally produced weapons at an international arms fair in Hanoi on Thursday ( Dec. 18 ).
Among the almost 250 vendors will be best military firms, including from the United States, Europe, Turkey and countries at war with each other, such as Israel, Iran, Russia and Ukraine.
The Southeast Asian nation has invested for centuries in its defense features in a troubled area where it has clashed with China over restrictions in the South China Sea, and it is a major supplier of arms, especially from Russia.
However, according to officials from the defense government, it has recently increased its domestic defense industry and increased export of military products.
State-owned defence company Viettel and other local companies will display missile defence systems, drones, heat military radars, armored vehicles and ordnance, according to defence ministry media.
Nguyen The Phuong, an analyst on Vietnam surveillance at Australia’s University of New South Wales, stated that some of these weapons will be displayed for the first time.
He noted that signing agreements with overseas arms exporters would have some of their components produced in Vietnam, which had been a key method to improve the local market.
He claimed that discussions with South Korean firms were raging for potential new bargains under those circumstances, particularly in the fields of artillery and aircraft.
Similar deals had also been held with firms from other countries, including the Czech Republic, authorities said.
Foes ‘ GEAR ON Screen
At the exhibition, Iran’s military government will have an overall palace, not far from the stalls of Israel’s military companies Israel Aerospace Industries and Rafael Advanced Defense Systems.
The fair will also sponsor a few booths of Russian companies and one for Ukraine’s Motor Sich, an aircraft engine company.
A hundred Turkish military companies, including Aselsan, Turkish Aerospace Industries and Roketsan, are among listed members, making Turkey’s one of the largest representatives.
China’s Norinco will be one of two Chinese vendors, in a second for a Taiwanese military good.
At the good, US defence companies Lockheed Martin, Boeing, and Textron Aviation Defense will also have booths.
They have all been in discussions with Taiwanese authorities regarding the sale of helicopters. According to sources, Lockheed is even considering a potential bargain for C-130 Hercules defense transport aircraft.
Brazil’s Embraer said it will show its C-390 Millennium aircraft- a competitor to the C-130.
Best Western defence companies will also participate, including aviation large Airbus, Britain’s BAE Systems, Germany’s Rheinmetall, Italy’s Leonardo and France’s Thales Group.