HANOI — Vietnam is set to showcase its domestically produced weapons at an international arms exhibition in Hanoi on Thursday, December 19, aiming to strengthen its local defense industry and explore opportunities for exporting military equipment.

The event will feature nearly 250 exhibitors, including leading defense companies from the United States, Europe, Turkey, and nations with conflicting interests, such as Israel, Iran, Russia, and Ukraine.

Vietnam, a significant arms importer, has traditionally sourced its military equipment from Russia, enhancing its defense capabilities in a volatile region where tensions with China persist over South China Sea territorial disputes. However, the country has recently prioritized developing its domestic defense sector, with officials emphasizing the importance of promoting military exports.

State-owned defense company Viettel and other Vietnamese firms will present advanced weaponry, including missile defense systems, drones, air defense radars, armored vehicles, and artillery. Some of these technologies will be unveiled for the first time, according to Nguyen The Phuong, a security expert from Australia’s University of New South Wales.

A key approach to bolstering Vietnam’s defense industry has been forming partnerships with foreign arms manufacturers to produce certain components locally. Discussions are ongoing with South Korean companies to finalize agreements, particularly in areas such as artillery and aviation. Similar negotiations have also been conducted with firms from other countries, including the Czech Republic.

Exhibits from Rival Nations

The expo will feature Iran’s defense ministry pavilion situated near booths from Israel’s leading defense firms, Israel Aerospace Industries and Rafael Advanced Defence Systems. Russian companies will occupy a dozen booths, while Ukraine’s Motor Sich, a manufacturer of aircraft engines, will also be represented.

Turkey’s delegation, one of the largest, includes major defense companies such as Aselsan, Turkish Aerospace Industries, and Roketsan. For the first time at a Vietnamese defense fair, China’s Norinco will be among two Chinese exhibitors.

US defense giants Lockheed Martin, Boeing, and Textron Aviation Defence will also participate, having engaged in discussions with Vietnamese officials regarding helicopter sales. Lockheed Martin is reportedly exploring a potential agreement for C-130 Hercules military transport aircraft. Meanwhile, Brazil’s Embraer plans to display its C-390 Millennium, a competitor to the C-130.

Prominent European defense companies, including Airbus, BAE Systems from the UK, Germany’s Rheinmetall, Italy’s Leonardo, and France’s Thales Group, are also confirmed attendees.

Disclaimer: This image is taken from Reuters file