23.03.2010
At year-end of 2009 export volume of Russian arms and military equipment to Vietnam made $3.5 bln, writes Vremya Novostei. In comparison to 2008, export of Russian weapons to the Asian country has grown in 3.5 times. Perhaps, this year export volumes would exceed those of 2009 since only in first quarter of 2010 Vietnam has spent $1 bln buying Russian arms.
On March 23, 2010 Anatoly Serdiukov, Russian Minister of Defense will pay an official visit to Vietnam where he is going to meet with the President Nguyen Minh Triet and Minister of National Defense General Phung Quang Thanh. Agenda of those meetings are issues of regional security and development prospects of Russo-Vietnamese military industrial cooperation.
As for some outlooks, Vietnam would be the second largest consumer of Russian arms. Top position is taken by India. At present, Vietnam ranks fifth after India, China, Algeria and Venezuela, said deputy director of Federal Service for Military Industrial Cooperation.
Late 2009 Russia and Vietnam tied a delivery contract of six Project 636
Varshavianka diesel electric submarines. The transaction cost made $1.8 bln. Construction of the subs will be carried out by
Admiralteyskie Verfi shipyard, St. Petersburg. According to the contract, Russian shipyard will deliver to Vietnam one submarine per year.
Early Feb 2010 it was reported that Vietnam had bought 12 multirole fighters
Su-30MK2 with aircraft armaments from Russia. Contract cost made about $1 bln. The aircrafts will be delivered to Vietnam in 2011-2012.
Source: , photo: Su-30MK2 (knaapo.ru)
