List of equipment of the Vietnam People's Air Force

Since the Vietnam War, most Vietnamese aircraft were supplied by the Soviet Union and later Russia, while hundreds of others were left by the United States via South Vietnam. Most of these are no longer in service either due to the unavailability of parts or the age of the aircraft. Aircraft losses of the Vietnam War.

Aircraft

Combat Aircraft

Image	Model	Type	Variant	Quantity	Origin	Notes
	Sukhoi Su-22	Fighter-bomber	Su-22UM3K Su-22M4	~43 [1]	Soviet Union   Vietnam	According to the Vietnam Air Force Air Defense newspaper, in the 5 years from 2019 to 2024, the A32 factory has overhauled 20 Su-22s and repaired 23 Su-22s at units (i.e. on duty), [2] so 43 Su-22 is the most approximate number of Su-22s in Vietnam. May have around 32 units. [3] Vietnam has never publicly disclosed the number of Su-22s it received from the Soviet Union or acquired from Eastern European countries.
	Sukhoi Su-27	Fighter	Su-27P/SK	~6 [3]	Russia   Vietnam	On July 6, 1998, a Su-27SK number 6007, piloted by Major Hoang Ba Tam, mysteriously crashed at sea. On October 2, 2007, a Su-27SK number 6005 flown by pilot Dao Quoc Khanh had a bird fly into the engine. The pilot landed the plane safely but the plane was seriously damaged. Up to now, there has been no announcement that the plane has been repaired. Overhaul done at A32 Factory.
	Sukhoi Su-30	Multirole	Su-30MK2 (Su-30MK2V)	35 [4]	Russia   Vietnam	Significant advancements made in the capabilities of maintenance. Able to manufacture critical components and extend the lifespan of the aircraft by 1500 hours or ~15 years. Overhaul done at A32 Factory.

Transport

Image	Model	Type	Variant	Quantity	Origin	Notes
	CASA C-295	Transport	C-295M	3 [1]	Spain
	CASA C-212	Transport	NC-212i	3 [1]	Indonesia
	Antonov An-2	Trainer / Transport	AH-02	Unknown	Soviet Union	Vietnam still uses the An-02 in unknown numbers for training, special forces parachuting practice, and light transport missions.

Helicopter

Image	Model	Type	Variant	Quantity	Origin	Notes
	Mil Mi-8	Utility	Mi-8T	89 [3]	Soviet Union   Vietnam	Helicopter Technical Service JSC (Helitechco) is the only certified company in Asia besides Russia that is qualified to perform maintenance and overhauls on the Mil helicopters. The repair center was established in 1994. [5] [6] Similar to Mi-17.
	Mil Mi-17	Utility	Mi-171 Mi-172		Russia   Vietnam	Vietnam has never announced the number of Mi-8s and Mi-17s it has purchased or received aid from the Soviet Union. Only the Mi-171SAR version was announced to have been purchased 4 units in 2006 but 1 unit crashed in 2014 so there is still 3. 3 Mi-171 SAR with yellow color. Helicopters are able to be maintenance and overhauled domestically. [5] [6]
	Kamov Ka-27	ASW Helicopter	Ka-32	~2 [3]	Soviet Union	Serve in frigates and patrol vessels around Spratly Islands. Serve in frigates and patrol vessels around Spratly Islands. Ka-32T bearing number 7551 crashed during a training flight and currently Vietnam only has one Ka-32T left with number 7552. Sources state that 2 exist. [3]

Trainer

Image	Model	Type	Variant	Quantity	Origin	Notes
	Sukhoi Su-27	Fighter trainer	Su-27UBK	~5 [3]	Russia   Vietnam	The Su-27UBK is used for conversion training. [7] Overhaul done at A32 Factory.
	Yakovlev Yak-130	Jet trainer / light multirole		11	Russia	According to publicly available documents from the media of Vietnam Air Force Air Defense Command, there is gradually researching and using the Yak-130 to fight enemy air attacks, and partake in Land-Air-Sea attack missions. One crashed in November of 2024. [8]
	Aero L-39 Albatros	Jet trainer	L-39C L-39NG	24 [1] 12	Czechslovak SR   Czech Republic	An unidentified number out of the 12 has been delivered as of early 2024. [9] Stated to have 43 with 3 on order. [3]
	Beechcraft T-6 Texan II	Trainer aircraft	T-6C Texan II	5 (+7)	United States	5 delivered, 7 awaiting delivery, on an order for 12. Delivery is expected to be completed by 2025. [10] [11]
	Yakovlev Yak-52	Trainer aircraft		34 [12] [13]	Soviet Union	According to the official Vietnamese press, the Yak-52 are still actively being used. [14]

Air Defense

The Military Balance of 2024 from the International Institute for Strategic Studies notes that Vietnam has a variety of towed anti-aircraft artillery in its arsenal, though the specific guns using the 85mm and 130mm calibers remain uncertain. It is possible that the 85mm gun is the KS-12/K-52, while the 130mm may be the KS-30. Vietnam has ~98+ SAM systems. ^[15]

Surface-to-Air Defense

Image	Model	Type	Variant	Quantity	Origin	Notes
	S-300PMU1	Long range air defense and anti-ballistic missile system.	S-300PMU1	12 launchers	Russia   Vietnam	Two systems were acquired. [16] Received upgrade to the command center and range of the missile. Said to be upgraded to S-300PMU2 standards. Factory A31 capable of domestically manufacturing spare and critical parts for SAM missile.
	SPYDER-MR	Medium to long range air defense system.		10 launchers	Israel	80 km range. Five systems (including 6 launchers each) and 750 missiles ordered. [17] The SPYDER-MR variant has a nonrotatable, vertical launcher. Used more as stationary air defense. Can domestically maintenance Derby and Python SAM missiles. There is a patent to reverse engineer the Derby SAM missile. [18]
	SPYDER-SR	Short to medium range air defense system.		20 launchers	Israel	40 km range. The SPYDER-SR variant has a rotatable, slanted launcher. Can possibly be used as mobile AA due to quick deployment.
	SA-2 Dvina	Short to medium range air defense system.		~25 launchers	Soviet Union   Vietnam	~27 to 35 km range. The Volga S-75M/M3 air defense missile complex (modern version of SAM-2) uses 5IA23 missiles and is a High-altitude air defense system. All SAM-2 complex systems have been modernized. Able to domestically produce complexes and equipment. Factory A31 capable of domestically manufacturing spare and critical parts for SAM missile. Old missiles had certain analog parts replaced with digital systems.
	S-125 Neva/Pechora	Short to medium range air defense system.	S-125TM Pechora-2TM S-125M Pechora-M S-125-VT	51 launchers	Soviet Union   Vietnam	~35 km range. 30 S-125TM Pechora-2TM and 21 S-125M Pechora-M batteries as of 2024. [19] The S-125-VT modernized variant was reported to be in service in July 2024. [20] Factory A31 capable of domestically manufacturing spare and critical parts for SAM missile. Old missiles had certain analog parts replaced with digital systems. Military Balance of 2024 states that there are 30 S-125-2TM Pechora-2TM and 21 S-125M Pechora-M. [21]
	2K12 Kub	Short range air defense system.		+21 launchers	Soviet Union	~20 km range. There are more than 21 units according to the Military Balance of 2024. [22]
	9K35 Strela-10	Short range air defense system.		20 launchers	Soviet Union	~10 km range. Still being used according to official Vietnamese newspaper from 2024, but not mentioned in the Military Balance of 2024. [23]

Point-defence

Image	Model	Type	Caliber	Variant	Quantity	Origin	Notes
	9K32 Strela-2	Man-portable air-defense system	72 mm			Soviet Union	Designed to counter against low flying targets with its passive infrared homing guidance system.
	9K38 Igla	Man-portable air-defense system	72 mm	9K130 Igla-1 9K338 Igla-S TL-01		Soviet Union   Vietnam	Manufactured locally under license, transfer of technology from Russia. [24] The TL-01 is a domestic copy of the Igla-S at Z131 Factory. Specs of TL-01: Range: 5 km Weight: 17 kg

Anti-aircraft Artillery

Image	Model	Type	Caliber	Variant	Quantity	Origin	Notes
	61-K	Autocannon	37 mm			Soviet Union   Vietnam	37 mm automatic anti-air autocannon. Modernized with a fire-control system and radar.
	AZP S-60	Autocannon	57 mm			Soviet Union   Vietnam	57 mm automatic anti-air autocannon. The Vietnamese heavily upgraded the AZP S-60 by equipping it with a fire-control system with radar, optoelectronic reconnaissance equipment, an electromechanical gun control complex, and a digital firing element identification system connected to a computer. Has an LCD screen. The upgraded AZP S-60 can operate without a gunner, is fully automatic, and no longer needs to be manually reloaded. [25] Modernized for VPK-57 project. Fire-control system integrated with X-band AESA radar.
	KS-19	Towed Anti-aircraft gun	100 mm			Soviet Union	Used during Vietnam war. [26] Still in service according to Military Balance of 2024. [27]

Munition

Image	Model	Type	Variant	Quantity	Origin	Notes
Air-to-air Missile
	K-13 (AA-2)	Air-to-air missile		2,550	Soviet Union	Used by former MiG-21 and Su-22M4/UM3K. 1000 R-3S, 800 R-3R, and 750 R-13M missiles. [28]
	R-60 (AA-8)	Air-to-air missile		400	Soviet Union	Used by Su-22M4/UM3K fighter-bombers. [28]
	R-27 (AA-10)	Air-to-air missile		320	Russia   Ukraine	Used by Su-30MK2 and Su-27SK/UBK fighters. [29] [30]
	R-73 (AA-11)	Air-to-air missile	R-73E	375	Russia	Used by Su-30MK2, Su-27SK/UBK and Yak-130. Short range missile. [28]
	R-77 (AA-12)	Air-to-air missile	RVV-AE		Russia	[31]
Air-to-surface Missile
	Kh-59 (AS-13)	Air-to-surface missile		200	Russia	[28]
	Kh-29 (AS-14)	Air-to-surface missile		100	Russia	[28]
	Kh-31 (AS-17)	Air-to-surface missile	Kh-31A Kh-31P	100	Russia	Kh-31 is carried by Vietnamese Su-30MK2. [28]

Former

Combat Aircraft

Image	Model	Type	Variant	Quantity	Origin	Notes
	Shenyang J-6	Fighter		30	China
	Shenyang J-5	Fighter		10	China	The Vietnamese Air Force used J-5s alongside the Soviet supplied MiG-17s for interception missions until the 1990s when they were retired, along with the remaining MiG-19s, being replaced with newer MiG-21s and Su-27s.
	MiG-21 Fishbed	Fighter	MiG-21bis MiG-21UM MiG-21PF MiG-21PFM MiG-21MF MiG-21F-13	645	Soviet Union	Retired from service in November 2015. [32] Replaced with Su-22. The MiG-21 fleet has reserved in storage and some frames are still capable of flying. There are plans to turn these retired aircraft into UAVs.
	MiG-19 Farmer	Fighter		~45	Soviet Union
	MiG-17 Fresco	Fighter	MiG17A MiG17P MiG17PF	367	Soviet Union
	MiG-15 Fagot	Fighter / Trainer			Soviet Union
	Northrop F-5	Light ground-attack / Light fighter	F-5A F-5E	191	United States	Captured during Vietnam War.
	Cessna A-37 Dragonfly	Light ground-attack	A-37A A-37B	254	United States	Captured during Vietnam War.

Maritime patrol

Image	Model	Type	Variant	Quantity	Origin	Notes
	PZL M28	Maritime patrol	M28B-1R [4]	1 [1]	Poland	Inactive.

Transport

Image	Model	Type	Variant	Quantity	Origin	Notes
	Antonov An-26	Transport		~30-48	Soviet Union	Likely retired, but may be in service. [33] [34]
	Beriev Be-12	Transport		6	Soviet Union	[35]
	Lockheed C-130 Hercules	Transport		7	United States	Captured during Vietnam War. Still serviced after 1975 and retired after 1980
	Fairchild C-119	Transport			United States	Captured during Vietnam War.

Helicopter

Image	Model	Type	Variant	Quantity	Origin	Notes
	Mil Mi-24	Attack helicopter	Mi-24A Mi-24D	~25-30	Soviet Union	Limited number, small number stored in reserve. Estimated to have around 25 units. [36] Likely retired, but may be in service. [33]
	Mi-4	Transport		~10	Soviet Union
	Mi-6 Hook	Transport	Mil Mi-6	~15-26	Soviet Union
	CH-47 Chinook	Transport	CH-47A	5	United States	Captured during Vietnam War.
	UH-1 Iroquois	Utility	UH-1H	15	United States	Captured during Vietnam War.

Trainer

Image	Model	Type	Variant	Quantity	Origin	Notes
	Aero L-29	Trainer			Czechoslovakia
[37]	TL-1	Trainer			Vietnam	Designed and manufactured from 1984 - 1985. The TL-1 is said to be a 4 seater with side-by-side seating arrangement. The HL-1 is a 2 seater with tandem seating. The HL-2 is either a 2nd iteration of HL-1 or a new variation. [38] Also, seen at the Vietnam People's Air Force Museum in Hanoi.

Development

This section will include weapons that are in the planning, development, or testing phase. It is important to note that not all the weapons in this particular section will progress to the point of being procured. To avoid confusion, existing weapon systems that are being modified or upgraded should have their progress recorded in the notes section and not moved to the development section.

Trainer

Image	Model	Type	Variant	Quantity	Origin	Notes
	TP-150 [39]	Trainer aircraft / Patrol			Italy   Vietnam	Designed by Italian Flying Legend aircraft manufacturer and manufactured in Vietnam. [40] Aircraft to be finalized in Italian and American factories.

Munition

Image	Model	Type	Variant	Quantity	Origin	Notes
		Practice Aerial Bomb			Vietnam	Researched and manufactured by Vietnam's Military Science and Technology Institute. Project took 2 years to complete. Stated to be 100% domestically manufactured along with the technology and material used. Low cost and able to be produced in large batches. [41]

Procurement

Transport

Image	Model	Type	Variant	Quantity	Origin	Notes
	C-130J	Transport			United States	Vietnam reported to sign a deal with the US to purchase 13 C-130J. [42] [43] Other sources state that Vietnam may purchase 3 units.

See Also

• Vietnam People's Air Force
• List of equipment of the Vietnam People's Ground Forces
• List of equipment of the Vietnam People's Navy
• People's Army of Vietnam Special Forces
• Naval Air Force, Vietnam People's Navy
• Vietnam Coast Guard
• Vietnam People's Public Security
• Vietnam Fisheries Surveillance

References

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