The Vietnamese Ministry of Defence is showing interest in purchasing Russian fifth-generation Su-57 fighters. This was reported by Military Watch Magazine (MWM).
At present, Vietnam's fighter aviation fleet consists entirely of Soviet and Russian Su-22 and Su-27 aircraft. The republic's Ministry of Defence intends to replace the aircraft with new Su-57s as early as the beginning of the 2030s.
One of the Su-57's main advantages is that its design provides for maintenance and repair costs comparable to those of previous heavy fighters, such as the Su-30.
Another significant characteristic is its long flight range. This will allow the Vietnamese military to patrol disputed territories in the South China Sea from bases located within the country.
It should be noted that, for now, Algeria remains the only relatively confirmed buyer of the Su-57, where these fighters have been spotted in the sky on multiple occasions. India is also considering acquisition and further localization, but there the situation is somewhat more complicated.
Read more materials on the topic:
- Lawyer explained the risk of bankruptcy for the Su-57 engine plant
- India needs not baseline Su-57s, but ones with the new AL-51F-1 engine
- The characteristics of the Kh-69 ghost missile for the Su-57, elusive to air defence systems, have been revealed
