Vietnam and India plan to deepen defense cooperation through the purchase of BrahMos missiles, several patrol ships and 14 patrol boats.
Naval News reported this news.
During Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s previous visit to Vietnam, New Delhi opened a $500 million defense credit line for Hanoi.
Indian Foreign Ministry Secretary P. Kumaran said on May 6 that projects worth $300 million have already been identified.
Under this program, Vietnam plans to purchase three to four OPV-class coastal patrol ships from India, depending on their final cost, as well as 14 high-speed patrol boats.
For the remaining $200 million, the parties are considering upgrading selected Vietnamese Navy ships and purchasing batteries for submarines.
India has also offered maintenance, repair and modernization services for Vietnam’s Su-30 fighter jets and Russian-made submarines.
Vietnam could become the first major foreign customer for India’s OPV patrol ships. India already operates a significant number of such vessels in its Navy and Coast Guard, and the latest design is the NGOPV class, which is currently under construction.
Depending on final agreements, some ships may be built in Vietnam under a technology transfer arrangement.
In 2022, India delivered 12 high-speed patrol boats to Vietnam’s border service under a $100 million credit line.
The 35-meter boats were partly built in India at Larsen&Toubro, where the first five units were manufactured, while the remaining seven were assembled at Vietnam’s Hong Ha shipyard.
The new 14 patrol boats are expected to be of a similar class, with most likely to be built in Vietnam.
In late March, it was reported that India is considering adopting a new version of the BrahMos cruise missile with a range of up to 800 km.
