Airbus to deepen defence partnership with Vietnam

These updates were shared in a media briefing held on December 18 ahead of the Vietnam Defence Expo 2024 (VIDEX 2024), to be organised on December 19-22 in Hanoi, where Airbus executives highlighted Airbus’ growing role in Vietnam’s defence sector.

Airbus held a media briefing on December 18 ahead of the Vietnam Defence Expo 2024 (VIDEX 2024). Photo: Airbus

Zakir Hamid, head of Asia-Pacific, Airbus, said, “Airbus would like to strengthen our partnership with Vietnam in its defence modernisation and capability development by providing cutting-edge solutions to support Vietnam’s ambitions and protect its sovereignty.”

“With our European heritage and strong international presence, we are committed to addressing the growing demand for advanced defence capabilities in Asia-Pacific, where Vietnam holds a significant place as one of our key markets,” he noted.

Thomas Zeman, vice president of sales and marketing for Asia-Pacific at Airbus Helicopters, added that today, Vietnam has more than 10 Airbus helicopters in service, primarily supporting the oil and gas industry and fulfilling critical search and rescue (SAR) missions.

“From helicopters and to Unmanned Aerial Systems, we are excited to present the widest and most modern defence and security product portfolio at the Vietnam Defence Expo. We are keen to engage with Vietnam's armed forces to provide adapted solutions to the country’s national defence and maritime security objectives, including SAR,” he said. “For helicopters, our portfolio extends from light multirole helicopters such as the H125M or the H145M to heavy helicopters in the 10-12-tonne segment such as the H225M or the specialised military helicopter NH90.”

One of Airbus’ key platforms at VIDEX 2024 is the C295, a versatile medium tactical transport aircraft that has demonstrated its capabilities in airlift, medical evacuation, and logistics missions. The Vietnam People’s Air Force currently operates three aircraft.

Airbus has also played a crucial role in developing domestic expertise in C295 operations and maintenance, helping to boost readiness and reduce reliance on external support. This partnership ensures that the C295 fleet is locally sustained, providing rapid response capabilities and reinforcing Vietnam’s long-term defence objectives.

Airbus is ready to support Vietnam with additional C295 transport aircraft and its other variants including maritime patrol, to enhance Vietnam’s airlift, as well as intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities in safeguarding its airspace and territorial waters.

Operators of the C295 enjoy its unique commonality across all variants. This enables operators to enjoy simplified training, streamlined maintenance, and operational flexibility, whether for tactical transport or maritime patrol missions.

In the space sector, Airbus is strengthening its commitment to strategic collaboration with Vietnam. At VIDEX 2024, Airbus will seek to deepen local partnerships, focusing on enhancing Vietnam’s capabilities in space applications.

Airbus Helicopters’ five-bladed H145. Photo: Airbus

These initiatives aim to unlock future cooperation opportunities, with an emphasis on key areas such as intelligence gathering, data processing and dissemination, satellite imagery, and communications applications supporting public safety and security.

In addition, Airbus is offering the combat-proven, multirole H225M helicopter to strengthen Vietnam’s rotary-wing fleet. Engineered for troop transport, SAR, and high-threat operations, the H225M delivers exceptional heavy-lift capabilities, making it ideal for a broad range of complex and demanding missions.

Similarly, the H145 helicopter, renowned for its agility and compact design, excels in medical evacuations, utility operations, and coastal patrols. The recently introduced five-bladed H145 model boosts its payload capacity by an additional 150 kg, further enhancing its performance and making it an even more versatile asset for Vietnam’s varied terrain and rapid-response needs.

Airbus will also introduce for the first time in Vietnam a life-sized 1:1 model of the next-generation Flexrotor Uncrewed Aerial System at VIDEX 2024.

Designed for intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition, and reconnaissance missions, the Flexrotor offers versatile support, particularly with the Vietnam People’s Navy and Coast Guard. With over 3,700 combat flight hours across land and maritime operations, the Flexrotor is set to strengthen Vietnam’s surveillance and security capabilities.

Airbus chief representative for Vietnam Tri Mai Hoang added, “With Vietnam’s defence expenditure expected to further accelerate at a compound annual growth rate of 5.6 per cent, reaching $10.2 billion by the end of the decade, Airbus is well-positioned to support the country’s defence modernisation journey, offering advanced platforms and technologies to enhance operational capabilities, regional stability, and long-term security objectives.”

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