Video: Grand parade marks 68th anniversary of WWII victory on May 9th at Red Square

(GDVN) - The annual military parade to celebrate the 68th anniversary of Victory Day over Fascism begin at 10 am on May 9th according to local time at the Red Square in Moscow.

The Parade held with the participation of more than 11,000 military personnel, 101 military vehicles and 68 combat aircraft.

Many major weapons modernization of the Russian army will be in the public eye as mobile air defense systems Buk-2 M2 medium-range, air defense systems S-400 Triumf.

Msta-152mm self-propelled guns capable of firing S chemical and tactical nuclear weapons, tactical missile systems Iskander-M mobile, Su-25SM, Su-27, MiG-29 ...

The 45 minutes parade was with the presence of numerous veterans, the Russian people and people over the world.

http://giaoduc.net.vn/Anh/Video-Toan-canh-le-dieu-binh-hoanh-trang-ngay-95-o-Quang-Truong-Do/295780.gd

Video: Vietnam conducts live fire exercise against enemy landings in Ly Son Island

On April 21-22, Ly Son Island's Armed Forces (in Quang Ngai province) conducted live fire exercises to improve combat power, protect the island in the situation of unexpected enemy attack.

Military Committee of Ly Son Island is the first unit of the armed forces in Quang Ngai drills using elastic warheads and explosives in the exercise against the enemy's waterway-landing in 2013.

VIDEO: THAAD Missile Defense Battery Now on Guam at Andersen AFB

Guam - The Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system known as THAAD arrived on Guam over the weekend.

Monday afternoon, Governor Eddie Calvo was told the first elements of the system had arrived by Brigadier General Daniel L. Karbler who is the Commanding General of the 94th Army Air and Missile Defense command at Fort Shafter in Hawaii.

The THAAD battery was flown in from Ft. Bliss Texas. Retired Army Sgt. Major John Blas, who served for a time at Ft. Bliss, says he saw the truck mounted THAAD missile system roll by him in a convoy on Andersen AFB Sunday.


Although a spokesman at Ft. Bliss confirmed to KDBC-TV in El Paso that the first units had departed last Thursday and arrived on Guam Saturday, the 94th Missile Defense Command in Hawaii has been tight lipped about the deployment to Guam.

READ the report on the KDBC website HERE

U.S. Army Pacific spokesperson in Hawaii, Colonel Michael Donnelly responded to a number of our questions with the same, non-committal response.

PNC asked for confirmation of the deployement here, where it would be stationed and how long it would be deployed on Guam?

Col. Donnelly replied via email to all of these questions with the same answer:

"The position, timing and length of stay of the THAAD is a sensitive matter and a matter of operational security so we do not discuss this in detail. What is important is that the THAAD is deployed to the region as a precautionary measure to strengthen our regional defense, including Guam."

Retired Army Sgt. Major Blas was stationed at Fort Bliss for a couple of years.

"I'm quite familiar with Fort Bliss and I know that distinctive patch that they wear and so this past Sunday I was up at Andersen eating at the food court on base and I noticed two senior army non-commissioned officers and I looked at their patch and, [I said] ohhh that's from fort bliss so I'm assuming they're the advanced party,” said Blas.

Then Blas drove down to Tarague beach on Andersen Air Force base and on his way back up the hill from Tarague when he saw the THAAD system in transport.

"I hit a stop sign and lo and behold there's this convoy and they just got off the plane because I see it's an army vehicle and it's like, those missiles are self-contained on a pod that resembles a long rectangle so probably has like four to six missiles and there were two of those big trucks,” said Blas adding, "I'm watching the truck as they pass by me and I said whoa it's longer than a forty foot container."

Blas also told us he didn't say anything about the arrival until the Governor's office made it public Monday afternoon. And he declined to say where on Andersen the battery is located.

"I happen to be very fortunate to have counted the number of vehicles in the convoy and I know what they are but I will not disclose the exact location but I know where they went,” said Blas.

Last Friday, KDBC in El Paso Texas reported that 56 members of 32nd Army Air and Missile Defense Command left El Paso Thursday and arrived safely on Guam Saturday our time.

More than 100 soldiers from the 32nd will eventually be deployed to Guam.

"I'm excited and I think the people of Guam will be rest assured that they're here ready to defend Guam,” said Blas.

Pacific News Center

Russian MiG-31, S-300 missiles live firing in air defense drill

On April 12 of 2013, the Ashuluk training center in Astrakhan region, Russia took an interception drill under the leadership of the Central Military forces.

The exercise was a large scale with scenarios that the southern part of Russia identified alarm when the enemy forces preparing to conduct a missile raid.

The Mig-31 interceptor aircraft of Russian has been ordered to carry cruise missiles for patrolling and ready to shoot down the enemy missiles.

Meanwhile, the air defense missile system S-300 has also been conducting fire and maneuver to block missile assumptions.

Video: More than 18,000 North Korean children sacrifice using their lifes to protect Kim Jong-un

18,423 children participated in Korean Red Riding Hood ceremony and praised. These children oath, decided to use both of their lives to defend leader Kim Jong-un.

International media on April 15th posted a video broadcasting on Korean Central TV, which seen a rally of thousands of young children throughout the country in Pyongyang.

Bulletin said of among the over 18 thousand Korean children are present in this particular rally, 3,475 children were rewarded.


What the Democratic People's Republic of Korea !

Royal Malaysian Navy Gowind class Corvettes for LCS program to be fitted with stealth 57mm Guns

At the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace exhibition 2013, Navy Recognition exclusively learned that the 6 future Gowind class Corvettes (Littoral Combat Ship program) will be fitted with 57mm Mark 3 main guns with stealth cupola from BAE Systems Bofors. We also took the opportunity to get the latest updates on the Malaysian LCS program from Anuar Murad, Director of Defence and Security at Boustead Heavy Industry Corporation.


Anuar Murad, Director of Defence & Security Division at BHIC, gave us the latest updates on the Gowind design for the Royal Malayasian Navy Littoral Combat Ship program.
It was confirmed during LIMA that the combat management system will be the SETIS by DCNS, the Fire Control Systems will be provided by Rheinmetall, and the engines will be provided by MTU. The design seems to have increased in size with the length of the LCS now at 111 meters (compared to 107 as previously reported) with a displacement of about 3,000 tons (compared to full load displacement of 2,730 tonnes as previously announced).

Integrated with SETIS, a combat system derived from FREMM class Frigates, Gowind Combat can tackle air, surface and submarine threats. The shock-resistant platform (built according to military standards), the small radar cross-section together with an excellent acoustic signature makes it a high-performance surface combatant.

Gowind Combat can be operated by a limited crew and has been designed to offer great at-sea availability and reduced life cycle costs.

During LIMA 2013 a Letter of Award was signed for the procurement of BAE Systems Bofors 57mm Mark 3 with stealth Cupola. In this picture taken during LIMA 2013, the gun is seen in open position.

BHIC Bofors Asia Sdn Bhd, the joint venture between Boustead Heavy Industries and BAE Systems (Bofors Asia), created in 2004, is set to benefit following the award to BAE Systems of a sub-contract for the sale of six 57mm Mk 3 naval guns for the Royal Malaysian Navy in a deal worth approximately RM175m.

The contract ‘letter of award’ was granted to BAE Systems during LIMA 2013 by the systems integrator, Contraves Advanced Devices, which is a joint venture between Boustead Heavy Industries and Rheinmetall Air Defence AG.

The 57mm naval gun, designed by BAE Systems in Karlskoga, Sweden, will equip the Malaysian Navy’s Second Generation Patrol Vessel – Littoral Combat Ships (SGPV-LCS). The contract includes ammunition hoists, simulator and initial support.

The 57mm Mk 3 naval gun with stealth cupola is already fitted on the Royal Swedish Navy Visby class stealth corvettes. Like on the Visby class, the stealth cupola will greatly contribute to lower the stealth signature of the Malaysian Gowind corvettes. An engineer from BHIC Bofors Asia SDN. BHD. told us during LIMA 2013 that the shape of the stealth cupola for the Gowind Corvettes will slightly differ from the one found on the Visby class to maximize the stealth characteristics of the corvette designed by DCNS.

HMS Helsingborg (Visby class Corvette) opens fire with its 57mm Mark 3 cannon
Picture: Royal Swedish Navy / Jimmie Adamsson

Navy Recognition

How to build a Nuclear Submarine- BBC

Documentary exploring the workings of three engineering companies, beginning with the only shipyard in Britain capable of building a new class of submarine, which has cost more than £1billion and is able to circumnavigate the globe without surfacing. The programme follows engineers, designers and skilled craftsmen as they work on the Astute, from the initial stages of production to its first journey into the open sea...

This documentary is about 'How to Build A Nuclear Submarine', follows the construction and events of the 'Astute Class' submarine within BAE Systems Submarine Solutions at Barrow-in-Furness over a period of a year.

The BBC gained exclusive access to the facility building these amazing machines; one of the most secure and secret places in the country, and the Royal Navy; who commissioned it; allowed BAE Systems to tell the story of how one of the world's most complicated vessels is built.

Fourteen years to design and build and costing around one billion pounds, the 'Astute Class' nuclear submarine is one of the most technically advanced and controversial machines in the world.

Japan deploys two Aegis destroyers in East Sea

Japan is gearing up for a possible North Korean missile launch.

Amid speculation that Pyongyang may launch its mid-range Musudan missile within days, Japan has ordered its self-defense forces to shoot down any missile headed towards its territory.

Various media outlets report two Aegis destroyers equipped with sea-based interceptor missiles have been deployed in the East Sea under the order.

This marks the first time the Japanese Defense Ministry has issued such an order before a North Korean missile announcement.

Japan's chief cabinet secretary, Yoshihide Suga, told reporters on Monday, that Tokyo, along with Washington and Seoul, is staying alert to secure the safety of its citizens in any scenario.
Suga declined, however, to mention the specific counter action plans held by the defense forces.

Arirang

Mass rallies held in DPRK

DPRK state television has shown mass rallies being held across the country in support of the government’s decision to enter a "combat ready" position.

Thousands of uniformed soldiers gathered in rigid formations in various cities. They chanted in unison, holding banners declaring support for all-out war and the country’s leadership.

The DPRK has been raising its war rhetoric almost daily in recent weeks. It is angry about UN sanctions related to a February nuclear test, and continuing US-South Korean military drills.

Foreign diplomats based in Pyongyang say the government told them it could not guarantee their safety if hostilities break out, unless they leave the country by the 10th of April. But so far, there has been no sign of diplomats preparing to leave.

Russia: Msta-S Howitzer, Grad Multiple Launch Rocket Systems Destroy “Enemy” Targets

The Primorye Territory hosted a joint exercise of artillery, motorized infantry and air force units. This RIA Novosti video shows missile and artillery units destroying “enemy” forces during combat.

The Vietnam-made Molniya class Project 1241.1/ 1241.8 Missile Boat

The missile boat of Project 1242.1 is a further development of the Molniya (Lightning) family boats, developed for export. It differs from its predecessor (Project 1241RE boats) in that the outdated P-20 missile system [SS-N-2 Styx] has been replaced by the Moskit-E ( SS-N-22 Sunburn) missile system which fires supersonic antiship missiles, and that the new Garpun-Bal multirole radar system has been installed.


Trials of the first boat of the class have already been completed. The Project 1242.1 Molniya Missile Boat is intended to engage combatant ships, amphibious ships, and other vessels at open sea. It has the variety of weapons with surface-to-surface and surface-to-air capabilities. The unique radar system covers the missile entire effective range, tracing concurrently 15 targets, and assigns six designated targets under intensive EW environment.

The gun fire control system detects air and surface targets, performs automatic tracking, and computes firing data. The radar which is used to detect surface targets provides fire control system with designation data for five targets at a time. The boat is also fitted with active radar jammers and IFF radar. The missile boat is equipped with the full set of navigation and communication equipment, powerful gas turbine power plant , air-conditioning and ventilation systems to provide efficient operation in any climatic conditions.

Russia has tested and put into production a new missile vessel, "Molniya ", armed with four Moskit missiles. The Molniya is a follow-on to the successful Soviet Tarantul-class missile boats. The St. Petersburg-based design company, Almaz, has developed an export version of the Molniya boat. The unique Russian missile boat "Molniya " is available in a tropical modification. The vessel can destroy surface ships, transport and landing facilities in a coastal zone and out at sea.

With its comparatively inconsiderable displacement of 550 tons, "Molniya " is equipped with four "Moskit" supersonic anti-vessel missiles. The first launch of Russia's newest supersonic anti-ship missile, the Moskit SS-N-22 Sunburn, was conducted from an export Molniya fast missile boat at the Feodosia test range late in October 1999. The boat has a radar missile target designation complex. It's the latest achievement in radio-electronic systems of this purpose. With its high noise-proof features, it can observe 15 targets simultaneously and define target destinations of six. The complex can reach targets 500 kilometers off. Besides strike missile guns, the boat has anti-aircraft missile weapons and automatic artillery installations. It has 12 portable anti-aircraft missile complexes "Igla" meant to hit air targets in conditions of natural visibility. The on-board rapid-fire artillery guns are meant to destroy air, surface and coastal targets. They can also be used to liquidate floating mines. "Molniya " also has two launchers and combined-interference shells to protect targets from anti-boat weapons with different guidance systems.

The boats' relatively small size enables them to blend in with coastal merchant and fishing traffic, making them difficult to locate and target. With a skilled operator, Russian-built patrol craft armed with Sunburn antiship missiles would be a significant threat to any seagoing adversary. The boat's high navigation characteristics allow it to use weapons in stormy weather with wind force 5 and ensures safety in the sea with wind force 8. Thanks to its sophisticated weapons, high running features, the boat can control a total area of water up to 5 thousand square nautical miles. The boat's speed is up to 38 knots, sailing range up to 2,400 miles, crew 44 members.

The missile boat of Project 1241.8 has been developed on the same basic platform as the Project 1242.1 boat. It differs from the predecessor by the missile armament only: it carries 16 Kh-35 [SSN-X-25 Switchblade] missiles of the Uran-E system instead of 4 missiles of the Moskit-E (SS-N-22 Sunburn) system. The Uran-E missile characteristics are similar to those of American Harpoons, but the missile boats of Project 12418 carry twice more missiles on board. The boats can be delivered to customers one year after signing a contract.

Vympel Joint Stock Shipbuilding Company (JSSC), based in the Volga River city of Rybinsk, is one of central Russia's largest shipyards specialising in series production of various types of river- and sea-going ships boats intended for diverse applications. At present the company serially builds boats up to 1,500 tons displacement intended for domestic and foreign customers both in naval and civil sectors. On of the major types of the vessels built by Vumpel is the Project 1241.8 Molniya Missile Boat.

In addition to the pilot Molniya boat undergoing tests at the Black Sea base of Feodosia, the shipyard has made four others which already have potential buyers. Vympel can only sell its patrol craft to foreign buyers since it is unlikely the Russian navy will procure new equipment in the near future.
In January 1999 it was announed that Vympel and Rosvoorouzhenie were to deliver two Project 1241RE missile boats to Vietnam. The frigate will come in versions which include a powerful gunboat, a patrol ship, a plane shooter and a hunter for submarines.

The pilot ship of the series is already under construction for Vietnam. The frigate's streamlined hull and low-profile superstructure provide an excellent hiding envelope for everything that generates noise or heat, reflects radar pulses or disturbs magnetic fields. Moreover, the superstructure can be coated with stealth materials that make it invisible to radars.

Propelled by two powerful water jets, the ship can race across shallows at over 30 knots. Big fuel tanks and fuel-saving diesel engines allow it to carry out missions at up to 3 thousand nautical miles from home base. Despite the displacement of just 545 tons, the frigate carries a formidable array of weaponry on board. This includes eight Kh-35 [SSN-X-25 Switchblade] anti-ship cruise missiles with a range of over 130 kilometers, two torpedo tubes, several anti-aircraft missile batteries of the VIKHR-K and IGLA makes and a number of large-caliber machine-guns.

Specifications
Designation:	1241.8
Designer	Almaz
Builder	Vympel Joint Stock Shipbuilding Company (JSSC),
Displacement (tons):	550 tons full load
Speed (kts):	38 knots (full) knots (economic)
Dimension (meters):	56.1 meters long 10.2 meters beam 2.65 meters draft
Propulsion:	gas turbine power plant Power, hp 32,000 Propellers 2 x fixed pitch
Crew:	44
Armament:
Airwing:	No
Missiles:	4 Moskit SS-N-22 Sunburn Cruise Missiles, 2 x 2 launchers [Project 1242.1] 16 Uran-E SSN-X-25 Switchblade [Project 1241.8] 8 Uran-E SSN-X-25 Switchblade [Project 1241 RE] IGLA -1M AD missile system (12 missiles)
Guns:	76 mm AK-176M Gun Mount 1 x 1 30 mm AK-630M Gun Mount 2 x 6
Antisubmarine:	none
Electronics	HF and UHF radio communication aids navigation radar radio direction-finder satellite navigation set air/surface target detection radar fire-control radar for cruise missiles fire-control radar for gun mounts decoy dispenser system (2 x PK-10)

fas.org, YouTube/saragon1988

Vietnam's Su-30MK2V fighters drill air raids exercise

The Air Force Regiment 923 (371 Division, Air Defense - Air Force of Vietnam People's Army) conducts air raids exercise in Sao Vang military airport.

At the end of year 2012, Vietnam People's Air Force armed with 24 Su-30MK2V and 12 Su-27SK/UBK fighters. In a report of Kanwa Asian Defense based in Canada, that the Vietnamese government is planning to purchase 12 more Su-30MKV/MK2 fighters to augment another of its air force regiments.

North Korea’s latest military video fails Propaganda Filmmaking 101 on just about every count

North Korea’s latest propaganda film, A Short, Three-Day War, is a scatter-shot attempt at narrative persuasion that may well say as much about the sad state of that country’s filmmaking industry (if there is one) as it does about its military preparedness.

The four-minute fantasy presents a sequence of images (many of them close-ups of cannons firing) held together by an off-screen narrator who spins a yarn of an upcoming “surprise” attack that will result in the northern peninsula state dominating its southern neighbor. Some 250,000 ballistic missiles will be launched along with 1,000 surface-to-surface rockets “like a shower from the heavens.” And 50,000 Special Forces infantrymen will manage to take 150,000 Americans living in South Korea prisoner. And that’s just day one of the three-day war.

The history of propaganda films is composed of a venerable list of directors—Sergei Eisenstein, Leni Riefenstahl and Frank Capra among them—who marshaled an arsenal of cinematic devices to achieve their hearts-and-minds-winning purposes: sophisticated montage, historical recreation, camera-in-the-trenches documentary work, to name a few. For cinema, like no other medium, has a unique ability to construct an impression of the world, false though it may be, that stirs people to action.

Sadly, the latest North Korean entry fails Propaganda Filmmaking 101 on just about every count. The images are apparently cribbed from motley sources such that, at its most fundamental level, the film fails to construct any coherent or convincing reality. The repeated close-ups of exploding guns have no visual context. Are they even North Korean? Who knows?

What few shots we get of marauding North Korean soldiers would seem to be lifted (did the North Korean government pay for the rights?) from some ancient fiction film. And the visual effects—cheesy dissolves, tacky composites, and even a 1980s-era saw-tooth transition effect—would indicate that North Korean aesthetics are roughly 20 to 25 years behind the rest of the world.

What is most telling about the film, though, is its subject. This is not a missive focused on the enemy. It is not a documentary laying bare the truth of an evil and soulless capitalist American society. Nor is it a film taking its audience into some happy vision of reunified Korean bliss.

This is a film for North Koreans about North Korea.

It spins a fantasy of North Korean military might. It is the cinematic (the word is generous) equivalent of a military parade where tanks and guns and rockets and missiles are flaunted in endless succession in desperate hopes of conveying to North Koreans the truth of who they are: a mighty and fearless state.

But the film is about as convincing as the would-be missiles showcased last April at a lavish military pageant in Pyongyang. Just as those fakes were nothing more than a mishmash of liquid-fuel and solid-fuel components, so too is the latest North Korean propaganda a hodgepodge of images and effects. Worse, it’s a dismal disservice to the fine cinematic tradition of propaganda filmmaking.

Quartz

Chinese naval fleet patrols southernmost East Vietnam Sea

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Four Chinese Navy ships have reached Zengmu Reef off Truong Sa Islands, the southernmost part in the East Vietnam Sea (the south China sea). The ships have been conducting patrols and training missions on the Sea over the past eight days.

All crew took part in an oath-taking ceremony on Tuesday morning at the reef, saying they are "determined to safeguard the country's sovereignty on the south China sea". The four ships from the Nanhai Fleet of the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy left Sanya from south China's Hainan Province on March the 19th. The fleet patrolled the islets and reefs of Truong Sa Islands between March the 23th and 25th. It will now head for the western Pacific Ocean via the Bashi Channel to continue its high-seas training.

Video: Vietnamese art of war? Watching and thinking.

Vietnamese history is a long series of wars against foreign invaders. In number and armament, the Vietnamese armies have never been in a situation of "equal" with its aggressor. However, the enemies always fail, national independence and sovereignty of Vietnam always hold.

A clip on Discovery channel showed a scene of extremely talented camouflage of Vietnamese soldiers:

Although Vietnam is not strong, Vietnamese soldiers not crowded, there are not many weapons, but Vietnam has military art of invincible war.

Watching and thinking:

North Korea Military Power: Video

Until a few years ago, the military power equation for North Korea was that if North Korea poured its million man army into South Korea, the joint US-South Korea military had to delay the conquest of the entire peninsula long enough for the American reinforcement from Japan.

North Korea's nuclear power change that calculation, whereby North Korea can now invade, point its nuclear missiles at Tokyo and the US bases in Japan, and tell the US military that if it tries to reinforce, Tokyo and the bases will be nuked. Given the choice of losing just South Korea or South Korea and Japan, the choice would be simple.

Buratino Destroys ‘Enemy’ Targets for the First Time in Exercises

The Buratino (TOS-1) heavy flamethrower system has been used in military exercises for the first time, at a site in Russia’s Eastern Military District. The military announced that the Buratino had successfully destroyed all targets.

Vietnam's SU-30MK2 pilots training for combat readiness

PANO – To be admitted to the officer training school, a candidate must meet strict requirements such as, among others, young age, fitness, and endurance.

SU-30MK2 – the modern, all-weather and long-range fighter

In training, pilots should regularly improve their fitness, strong mentality, acuteness and other abilities to deal with any circumstances in flight for safe flights.

PANO would like to introduce some images of daily training for pilots at Regiment 923 (Division 371, Air Defence and Air Force Service):

Pilots regularly conducting physical strength tests

It takes each pilot 1.5 hours a day to practice aviation physical exercises

Pilots getting acquainted with new fighters in a 3D simulation lab

Technicians comprehensively checking a fighter before taking off

An image being taken at an SU-30MK2’s cockpit

qdnd.vn

Vietnam's military buildup: Media report

The two multi-purpose fighter Su-30MK2 of Vietnam fly sorties to patrol the East Vietnam Sea.

To increase its military power, the Vietnamese government launched a program to modernize its air force and navy against the growing Chinese influence in the disputed region of the South China Sea five years ago, reports the periodical Kanwa Asian Defense based in Canada.

By deploying SS-N-26 Yakhont anti-ship missiles and Gepard class frigates (2 in service and 2 more order) at its bases in central and southern Vietnam, the country's navy is able to respond promptly to any Chinese action in the Spratly islands. By 2010, Russia had already provided enough Yakhont anti-ship missiles to the Vietnamese navy to equip a battalion. Vietnam and Russia began to discuss a new contract to equip another Yakhont anti-ship missile battalion this year. While most disputed islands in the South China Sea lie less than 300 kilometers from Vietnam, the range of the Yakhont anti-ship missiles enable the Vietnamese navy enough capability to attack targets farther than 300 kilometers from home. They are considered a considerable threat to Chinese vessels operating in the disputed waters.

Major General Nguyen Thanh Tuan talks in the meeting

Speaking at the meeting with Vietnamese oversea people on Septemper 27-28, 2012, Major General Nguyen Thanh Tuan, director of the Propaganda and Training Department, General Political Department of the Vietnam People's Army hit strengths: "We have guardian ships equipped with missiles to protect the coast of 200km squared, we also have the missiles reaching a range of 600km, and the missiles are the most modern weapons in the world today. We also purchase enough aircrafts to protect the Spratly and Paracel islands." (1)

Vietnam's Shaddock anti-ship missile.

Vietnam People's Navy is building Coastal defense missile force (the 679th Coastal missile Regiment) become the core force in maritime security strategy by equipping Russian and Indian missile systems. Vietnamese Navy has already produced itself P-5 Pyatyorka/Shaddock anti-ships missile, range upgraded to 550 km, in fact, Vietnam was the only customer that USSR export this missile system.

The Joint venture company Russia-India BrahMos Aerospace Private Limited will sold Vietnam 15 BrahMos stealth supersonic cruise missile, and become the first military in the world imports Brahmos defense missile, if compared with other types of missiles being used in the world, BrahMos missile has the advantages of speed faster 3 times, range longer 2.5 times, respond shorter time 3-4 times. (2)

In a surprise development, Vietnam is also finalizing a contract to purchase four Sigma-class corvettes from the Netherlands. Currently operated by the Indonesian and Moroccan navies, the Sigmas, two of which might be built in Vietnam, would be the most modern warships in Vietnam's inventory.

Su-30K

There are currently 24 Su-30MKV/MK2 and 12 Su-27SK/UBK fighters in the service of Vietnam's air force. Like the navy, the Vietnamese air force deploys most of its advanced fighter units to central and southern Vietnam. The 935th Regiment of the Vietnamese air force equipped with the Su-30MKV/MK2 is currently based at Bien Hoa near Ho Chi Minh City. Taking off from Bien Hoa, the combat radius of a Su-30MKV/MK2 covers the entire South China Sea. Since the southern Chinese island province of Hainan is only 500 kilometers from the Phu Cat Air Force Base of the 940th Air Force Regiment, the Vietnamese Su-27SK/UBK is able to strike the base of the PLA's South Sea Fleet on the island.

Vietnam's Su-30MK2V

Older Cold War-era fighters such as the MiG-21 and Su-22 have been stationed at the air force bases of nothern Vietnam, which are considered less important to Hanoi's overall strategy.

A representative of Rosoboronexport, Russia's state-run military exporter, told Kanwa Asian Defense that the Vietnamese government is planning to purchase 12 more Su-30MKV/MK2 fighters to augment another of its air force regiments. In addition, the Vietnamese government is also in talks with Rosoboronexport about acquiring Yak-130 trainers. "We are not in a hurry," the agent said. "The Vietnamese will need our trainers sooner or later if they are using our fighters."

In April 2011, Vietnam has ordered six Kilo class submarine, worth about 1.8 billion dollars, the contract is said to occupy the entire defense budget of Vietnam in 2009. With six submarines, the first to be delivered in 2012 and the last one to be delivered by 2016, Vietnam will own the largest and most modern submarines team in Southeast Asia.

Moscow will proceed with plans this year to help Vietnam launch a new submarine fleet and train the crews, Russian Defense Ministry Sergei Shoigu said on Wednesday, March 6, 2013.

The Vietnam's first two in a series of six Kilo class submarines Projekt 06361 HQ-182 "Hanoi" and HQ-183 "Ho Chi Minh City" during state sea trials in Russia.

“This year our joint efforts will open a new page in Vietnam’s navy – a new fleet will appear,” Shoigu said, after talks with his Vietnamese counterpart Defense Minister General Phung Quang Thanh.

Shoigu said the two ministers discussed “crew training and preparation of the submarines,” for which Russian military schools will provide assistance, he said.

In 2012, Russia and Vietnam planned to start joint production of a modified anti-ship missile, head of the Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation Mikhail Dmitriyev said on Wednesday.

3M24/Kh-35E/UE Uran / AS-20 / SS-N-25 Switchblade

“We are planning to build facilities in Vietnam for the production of a version of the Russian Uran [SS-N-25 Switchblade] (named X-35) missile in a project that is similar to joint Russian-Indian production of the BrahMos missile,” Dmitriyev said.

The Uran subsonic anti-ship missile can be launched from helicopters, surface ships and coastal defense batteries. It has a range of up to 250 kilometers (135 nautical miles) and carries a 145-kilogram high explosive warhead.

Russian-Indian joint venture BrahMos Aerospace Ltd, set up in 1998, manufactures supersonic cruise missiles based on the Russian-designed NPO Mashinostroyenie 3M55 Yakhont (SS-N-26). (3)

News aggregated from various sources.

1 http://www.tienphong.vn/xa-hoi/593375/Bao-ve-bien-dao-bang-vu-khi-hien-dai-nhat-the-gioi-tpov.html

2. http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article2610605.ece

3 http://en.ria.ru/world/20120215/171330093.html

North Korea Threatens South with Large Scale Military Drill

North Korea's Worker-Peasant Red Guards conduct a military drill.

The civil defence force group, numbering around 5.7 million, held the exercise against a background of rising hostilities on the Korean peninsula.

South Korean and U.S. troops took part in the joint computer-simulated drill "Key Resolve" on Friday in Seoul.

The annual joint drills started on Monday to practice combined and joint command-post military operations to defend South Korea.

But North Korea is threatening military action against its southern neighbour and the United States if the drills continue.

About 200,000 Korean troops and 10,000 U.S. forces are expected to be mobilized for a separate exercise, "Foal Eagle'', before the end of April.

A spokesman for South Korea's Defence Ministry said on Friday it was keeping an eye on its unpredictable northern neighbour, and that it would be prepared in case of war.

Last week, Pyongyang scrapped the 1953 armistice deal that ended the Korean War and on Monday they cut off the inter-Korean communication hotline.

NTDTV.org