Russia and Vietnam will hold a meeting of the intergovernmental commission on military-technical cooperation, where naval equipment and Project 636 "Varshavyanka" submarines will be specifically discussed. The possible agenda was announced by Dmitry Shugaev, Director of the Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation, who noted that these submarines continue to attract high interest from Hanoi.
Vietnam's interest in Russian technology already has a well-established material basis. Hanoi has received six Project 636.1 "Varshavyanka" diesel-electric submarines, four Gepard-class frigates, 12 Molniya missile boats, some of which were built in Vietnam under Russian license, as well as Bastion coastal missile systems. The contract for six "Varshavyankas" was estimated at approximately $2 billion, and deliveries of the submarines began in 2013.
Russian aviation constitutes an equally significant part of the Vietnamese fleet. The country received 32 Su-30MK2 fighters, and in 2019, it signed a contract for at least 12 Yak-130 combat trainers worth over $350 million. Deliveries of the Yak-130s were planned to be completed in 2021.
Russian equipment also covers other areas of Vietnam's defense: previously, Hanoi acquired several S-300PMU1 divisions, Igla man-portable air-defense systems, and other systems. According to Russian sources, the Vietnamese side also received technologies and developed its own production of certain models, which makes the cooperation broader than just purchasing ready-made equipment.
Now, Moscow and Hanoi are discussing not only the continuation of supplies but also new projects, including technological cooperation. According to Shugaev, shipbuilding, missile systems, and aviation remain on the agenda, and the Russian side considers the Yak-130 a well-proven platform.