French naval anti-air frigate Forbin docks at Sai Gon - Hiep Phuoc port (Source: VNA) HCM City (VNA) – Forbin, an anti-air frigate of the French Naval Force led by Col. Thomas Frioli, docked at Sai Gon-Hiep Phuoc port on May 28, beginning a friendship visit to Ho Chi Minh City which will last until June 3. The French frigate’s visit is part of the framework of the Vietnam-France defence cooperation plan for 2019, contributing to promoting the bilateral defence ties, as well as strengthening the strategic partnership more generally between the two nations. During its visit, officers of the ship are scheduled to pay courtesy visits to leaders of the HCM City People’s Committee, the High Command of Military Region 7, and the High Command of Navy Zone 2. The two sides will share experience in fields of mutual concern. They will participate in friendly sport exchanges with Vietnamese officers and soldiers of the High Command of Military Region 7 and the High … [Read more...] about French naval anti-air frigate Forbin visits HCM City
Air defence command
Vietnam, Japan enhance defence ties
Hanoi (VNA) – Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People’s Army and Deputy Defence Minister hosted a reception in HanoiPhan Van Giang on January 7 for Chief of the Staff of the Japan Air Self-Defence Force General Yoshinari Marumo. Giang expressed his belief that the visit will strengthen friendship, cooperation and mutual support between the two defence ministries and the two air forces in particular. He said the Vietnamese Defence Ministry highly values the Japanese Defence Ministry’s capacity improvement programme for the Vietnamese air force, adding that the sharing of information and experience in flight safety, aviation medicine and rescue have raised mutual understanding between both sides. Hailing the outcomes of talks between General Yoshinari Marumo and the Commander of the Air Defence-Air Force Service, Giang affirmed that the Vietnamese Defence Ministry is always ready to offer all possible support to the two air forces to … [Read more...] about Vietnam, Japan enhance defence ties
Vietnam, Thailand foster air defence cooperation
Sen. Lieut. Gen. Phan Van Giang, Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People’s Army and Deputy Minister of National Defence (R) received Commander-in-chief of the Royal Thai Air Force, Air Chief Marshal Chaiyapruk Didyasarin, in Hanoi on November 16 (Photo: qdnd.vn) Hanoi (VNA) – Sen. Lieut. Gen. Phan Van Giang, Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People’s Army and Deputy Minister of National Defence received Commander-in-chief of the Royal Thai Air Force, Air Chief Marshal Chaiyapruk Didyasarin, in Hanoi on November 16. Giang noted that defence cooperation between Vietnam and Thailand over the past years has grown strongly with practical outcomes, especially in delegation exchange, personnel training, air and naval defence cooperation. The close defence partnership has helped reinforce and strengthen the friendship, mutual understanding and trust between the people and armies of the two countries, he said. Giang also lauded the cooperation … [Read more...] about Vietnam, Thailand foster air defence cooperation
French air force’s squadron visits Vietnam
A Dassault Aviation Rafale jet fighter performs during the International Paris Air Show in Le Bourget near Paris on June 23, 2017. (Source: AFP) Hanoi (VNA) - A detachment of combat aircraft of the French Air Force is on a visit to Vietnam from August 26-28, the French Embassy in Vietnam announced at a press conference on August 27 in Hanoi. Speaking at the conference, General Patrich Charaix, Commander of the deployment code-named PEGASE 2018 said the French Air Force organised and coordinated the Mission Pegase in the Indo-Pacific region, with the involvement of three Dassault Rafale fighters, one Airbus A400M strategic airlifter, one Boeing C-135FR Stratotanker, and one Airbus A310 passenger transport aircraft. The French Air Force mobilised 100 personnel for the deployment, he noted. After taking part in the exercise Pitch Black (July 27 - August 17) in Australia, on its return journey to France, this squadron has been making visits to Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, Singapore … [Read more...] about French air force’s squadron visits Vietnam
Việt Nam to participate in US-hosted naval exercise for first time
Viet Nam News HÀ NỘI — Việt Nam’s Defence Ministry has confirmed it will be sending eight naval officers to participate in the Rim of the Pacific Exercise (RIMPAC) in Hawaii, the United States, from July 1 – 31, at the invitation of the Commander of the US Navy’s Pacific Fleet. It will be the first time Việt Nam has taken part in the RIMPAC after the country sent observers to the event in 2012 and 2016. The participation will be an opportunity for Việt Nam’s naval forces to learn from other countries’ experience and improve its disaster relief and search and rescue operations at sea. RIMPAC is the world’s largest international maritime exercise biennially hosted by the US in and around the Hawaiian Islands and Southern California. According to the US Navy, 26 nations, 47 surface ships, five submarines, 18 national land forces, and more than 200 aircraft and 25,000 personnel will participate in this year’s … [Read more...] about Việt Nam to participate in US-hosted naval exercise for first time
Indonesia Air Force to have eight fighter squadrons
Jakarta (VNA) - The Indonesian Air Force (TNI AU) will have eight squadrons of fighter jets by 2024, said Air Force Chief of Staff, Marshal Yuyu Sutisna. To face the increasingly complex duties in the future, the TNI AU will continue to develop and improve its strength, Indonesia’s Antara news agency quoted Marshal Yuyu Sutisna as saying at the Air Force Unit Command School (Sekkau) on June 7. The ongoing 20-year plan to develop the TNI AU`s strength between 2005 and 2024 included the building up of eight squadrons of fighter jets, he said, adding that the squadrons will each have 16 fighter jets, with their preparedness averaging 80 percent. The TNI AU will also build six squadrons of light, medium and heavy duty transport planes, each with 16 aircraft, Marshal Yuyu Sutisna said. These squadrons were aimed at supporting the mobility of troops and logistics in trouble spots, he added. When it comes to transport planes, the TNI AU will replace its C-1308s with … [Read more...] about Indonesia Air Force to have eight fighter squadrons
Vietnam, US sign agreement on dioxin treatment in Bien Hoa
Lt. Gen. Le Huy Vinh, Commander of the Air Defence – Air Force Service (R) and Michael Greene, Mission Director for USAID/Vietnam inked the document to start a project on dioxin remediation in the Bien Hoa airport (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – The US Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Air Defence – Air Force Service under the Vietnamese Defence Ministry signed an agreement on non-refundable aid for a project on dioxin remediation in the Bien Hoa airport in Hanoi on May 11. Michael Greene, Mission Director for USAID/Vietnam, and Lt. Gen. Le Huy Vinh, Commander of the Air Defence – Air Force Service, inked the document to start the plan making process for the work. Bien Hoa is the largest remaining dioxin hotspot in Vietnam. According to assessments of Vietnam and the US, some 500,000 cu.m of dioxin contaminated land in the airport needs to be treated. The successful dioxin decontamination in this area will contribute to reducing … [Read more...] about Vietnam, US sign agreement on dioxin treatment in Bien Hoa
Blasts shake Damascus as US and allies launch Syria strikes
Viet Nam News DAMASCUS — The United States, Britain and France carried out a wave of pre-dawn strikes against Syria’s regime Saturday in response to a suspected chemical weapons attack, lighting up the sky of Damascus as explosions shook the city. Branding the alleged gas attack the “crimes of a monster”, US President Donald Trump announced the action against President Bashar al-Assad’s regime in a White House address, defying fierce warnings from Damascus ally Russia. A few minutes later, an AFP correspondent in Damascus heard a series of huge blasts and residents rushed to their balconies. For around 45 minutes, explosions echoed and the sound of warplanes roared over the city, as flashes flared in the distance. As dawn broke, plumes of smoke could be seen rising from the city’s north and east. In the biggest foreign military action so far against Syria’s regime, Western officials said a barrage of cruise and air-to-land … [Read more...] about Blasts shake Damascus as US and allies launch Syria strikes
US fires ‘one-time shot’ at Syria after chlorine attack
The United States and its allies fired more than 100 missiles at Syria early on Saturday in a "one-time shot" the Pentagon said followed evidence that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad was responsible for a chemical weapons attack using at least chlorine gas. U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis and Marine General Joseph Dunford said three main chemical weapons facilities were targeted at 9 p.m. EST (1 a.m. GMT) by missiles from both the sea and aircraft, which triggered Syrian air defenses. The Pentagon could not confirm how many missiles hit their targets but said no other attacks were planned. Mattis and Dunford acknowledged the strike was designed to degrade Syria's chemical weapons capability without killing civilians or the many foreign fighters in Syria's multi-sided civil war, particularly those from Russia. "We specifically identified these targets to mitigate the risk of Russian forces being involved," Dunford told reporters, adding the U.S. military advised Russia of airspace … [Read more...] about US fires ‘one-time shot’ at Syria after chlorine attack
Cyber Command asked to safeguard national sovereignty in cyberspace
With the strong development of science technology and the Internet and the grow-up of the fourth Industrial Revolution, cyberspace is becoming a new “territory” holding important role in each country’s socio-economic development, defence, security and external relations, PM Phuc said at a ceremony in Hanoi on January 8 to announce the Prime Minister’s decision on the establishment of the command. In modern warfare, cyberspace is considered as the fifth combat environment which is connected closely with air, ground, sea and space combat. Therefore, cyber combat plays an important role in wars that use hi-tech weapons, he added. The Government leader requested the Cyber Command to coordinate closely with relevant units such as the Ministry of Public Security and the Ministry of Information and Communications to safeguard the military and defenceinformation system as well as the nation’s important information data. He urged the force to study and apply … [Read more...] about Cyber Command asked to safeguard national sovereignty in cyberspace