Vietnam expected to receive Brahmos missile

Vietnam expected to receive Brahmos missile

Vietnam Peoples Navy is the first foreign customer who expected to receive the world's lethal anti shipping cruise missile Brahmos. Sources confirmed that, the contract would be finalized before the end of this year.  Both Russia and India agrees to export the Missile to Vietnam who is a friendly nation to both Nations.

The same source also said that, Air launched version of Brahmos A already completed the ground trails. the airborne carriage trails commenced soon by following the final test launch scheduled by end of this year. The Brahmos A program almost delayed by more than a year, where DRDO and HAL said test launch may occur in end of 2015.    

Vietnam is the most pro Russian country who relies on Soviet and Russia for it's military needs, who also threatened by the Chinese with the disputed Island issue. Vietnam requesting the Brahmos missiles for it's front line naval ships, who currently using older Styx missile, Vietnam operates more than six Molniya class missile corvette's. Similar like Indian Navy's veer class missile corvette. Vietnam plans to replace those Styx missiles with Brahmos missile.

Sources said, Vietnam requesting the Brahmos since years, when the official talks started in early 2013, Later the talks actively progressed by both Indian and Russian officials. Since 51% of the missiles stakes under Indian custody, India needs to take the final decision. However India also willingly to share the Brahmos to Vietnam, after Vietnam given few of the oil fields to Indian state firm ONGC.

China protested the Vietnamese move of giving oil fields to India, saying "transferring rights in the disputed Island to foreign country make bigger problems". Refusing the Chinese threat, ONGC get the contract from Vietnam to explore the oil deposits. who already stated working on the fields.

India revamped it's relationship with Vietnam later 2000 only, However which creates stronger basement to counter Chinese threat. The relationship went another level in later years, as once the Indian foreign minister openly said that " Vietnam is one of the Pillar of India's act east Policy ".

The current government keen to expand the relationship into higher level  and hosted the Vietnamese Prime minister in India early 2014. During the meet Indian PM offered the Brahmos missile to Vietnam, also expressed deeper maritime relationship with Vietnamese Navy. In this field both navy's conduct regular port visits, Joint patrols and Naval exercise.

Indian Govt also allowed the navy to provide assistance and training to Vietnam navy to work with newly acquired Kilo class submarine from Russia. Also given $100 million credit line to buy new warships from India. India is in final talks to supply four large patrol vessel to Vietnamese navy. as Indian PM promised in earlier 2014.

Vietnam operates six modern kilo class submarines and few Russian frigates and missile corvette's. all those are modernized with newer Klub missiles. Vietnam also operates K 300 P Bastion coastal missile battery, The missile used in the K300 is the Oniks missile, predecessor of Brahmos missile.  

Statement on Satellite Centre in Vietnam

Statement on Satellite Centre in Vietnam

As part of Space Cooperation between India and Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN), Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), at the behest of Government of India, is working towards the establishment of a Satellite Tracking & Data Reception Station and Data Processing Facility in Vietnam for ASEAN Member countries. This facility is intended to acquire and process Indian Remote Sensing Satellite data pertaining to ASEAN region and disseminate to ASEAN Member countries.

Under this initiative, all ASEAN member countries, including Vietnam will be allowed to access processed remote sensing data pertaining to their country.

Ground facility is designed in such a way that it will not allow Indian data to be accessed and processed by the system.

This information was provided by the Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Development of North-Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh in a reply to an unstarred question in Lok Sabha today.

PTI

South China Sea, US plans to send it's Naval Ships

South China Sea, US plans to send it's Naval Ships

    The US Navy plans to send it's naval ships close to the Chinese artificial island, as China says 12 nautical miles from the artificial island is belong to Chinese government. sailing inside the perimeter is considers as violation without having permission, and that could bring military actions. as many nations include India previously sends it's Naval warships very close to the artificial Islands. they never provoked the Chinese, by sailing close to the 12 nautical miles, they keep off from the Chinese identical zones.

    The US is the first and only nation who send it's naval spy plane P8 Neptune and performed flying mission over the island. the Chinese repeatedly warned the American air crew. and the American air crew replied to the Chinese, "we are flying in the international airspace, so no need to obey others orders, and we are working under UN laws and regulations", the Chinese air traffic repeatedly warned the Americans. however they didn't changed it's flight path and continued their missions. later US never tried to send more flying missions over the Chinese artificial Island. and no other countries never tried to perform such missions.

    Recently Indian Naval officers said that, "India must join hands with Americans and support their moves of conducting freedom of Navigation flights over the artificial island", however both the Indian and US government officials not interested further provoking the Chinese. they plans for a multi nations alliance to confront the Chinese. the Alliance still on paper.

   As American always one step ahead, when dealing with such threats. they planned to send a warship very close to the Island and sail within the 12 nautical mile ring which covers the Artificial island. the plan was drafted by the US Navy officials and Pentagon. however still it not gets a official authorization by the US president. The US President says, "wait till the upcoming UN general security meet, and wait for any diplomatic option", and there is no clear words comes from the both Chinese and American officials during the meet. while China speeding up the construction of the Artificial island.

   And now the Pentagon officials once again move the same plan to the white house to authorize the mission. the final decision yet to taken by the President, Navy officials from Pentagon spoke to Navy times and said "the president will authorize the plan of using Naval power inside the hot zone". that could pose a serious challenge to the Chinese Navy and it's military planners.

   During the initial days of Ukraine conflict US Navy send it's Arleigh Burke class Destroyer USS Donal Cook to show the American support to the Ukraine government. and it's believed US may send the same Arleigh Burke class destroyer close to the Artificial Island. US Navy operates more than seventy such Destroyers. which is named one of the Best AEGIS Destroyer in the world, armed with hundred's of offensive and defensive missile systems.

   If the South Pacific Nation alliance succeeded, The Indian's Japanese and Australians too sends it's warships close to the Island to show it's power. India recently sends it's newest stealth frigate INS Sahyadri as a four days deployment to South china sea, to work with the Vietnam Navy to support's it's patrols close to the Spratly Islands. and the Ship's deployment days may be expanded into months in coming days, that makes Indian Navy's interest in full time missions in South China sea.

   Even if the US sends it's Destroyer's close to the Chinese Artificial Islands. the Chinese have no option to stop the Ship. and they do what Russian did in Ukraine when USS Donald Cook passed over the Black Sea. the Chinese may try to buzz the US destroyer using it's fighter jets. however America never bother about the Chinese actions, and they continue sail towards the mission directions, as they doing since decades.

INS Sahyadri Deployed in Vietnam as part of ‘Operational Deployment’ to the South China

INS Sahyadri Deployed in Vietnam as part of ‘Operational Deployment’ to the South China

    In pursuance of India’s ‘Look East’ and ‘Act East’ policy, Indian Naval Ship Sahyadri, as a part of ‘Operational Deployment’ to the South China Sea and the North West Pacific region, has entered Da Nang, Vietnam on a four day visit commencing 02 Oct 15.

    The visit of INS Sahyadri is aimed at strengthening bilateral ties and enhancing inter-operability between navies of the two countries. Indian warships had last visited Hai Phong, Vietnam in August 2014. INS Sahyadri is an indigenously built warship of the Shivalik Class. Inducted into the Indian Navy on 21 July 12. The multi-role stealth frigate, boasts of an impressive array of weaponry in her arsenal. Long range anti-ship missiles, medium and short range surface to air missiles augmented by powerful guns of different calibers provide a formidable shield against all types of surface and air threats. The capability to carry two integral multi-role helicopters significantly enhances the potency of this ship. INS Sahyadri, is presently being commanded by Captain Kunal Raj Kumar.

    During her stay in harbour, various activities aimed at enhancing cooperation and interaction between the two navies are planned. These include official calls and interaction with dignitaries of the Vietnamese government and the Vietnamese Peoples’ Navy (VPN), reception onboard INS Sahyadri, onboard visits by local populace, guided tours for Indian naval personnel and professional interaction between personnel of both the navies.

    India and Vietnam have cultural and economic links dating back to the 2nd Century A.D, which were facilitated by maritime trade. In modern times, support during struggle for liberation from foreign rule and subsequent political and cultural exchanges have strengthened this historic relationship. In order to expand this to the security domain, a ‘Security Dialogue’ was instituted in 2003. India and Vietnam signed a Joint Declaration on the ‘Establishment of a Strategic Partnership’ in 2007 as well as a ‘MoU on Defence Cooperation’ in 2009. These have laid the foundation for strengthening maritime cooperation between the two countries.

- Indian Navy 

With Mighty Navy, India warns China over South China Sea

With Mighty Navy, India warns China over South China Sea

Indian Ships in Vietnam Port

       South China Sea is one of the most after sought areas. The area is filled with vast areas of oil reserves and natural gas, but all of these areas are in the territorial waters of Vietnam and Philippines. The South China Sea under the Chinese control has failed to fetch any of these reserves. China has time and again shown its presence in the area by projecting its power using its Navy. Vietnam has already started exploration in this water with the help of India thus setting off a race for the South China Sea.

          China has tried with its might to take control of the oil fields. China has also explored options to either buy or lease these oil rich fields. But Vietnam has turned down this request and has shown loyalty to Indian exploration companies and the tempo has been reciprocated by Indian companies which have already started looking options to explore these fields. 

      Indian Navy has helped secure these oil fields which have only set off bells in Beijing. China has tried to check India’s onward move to the open sea and has sought to setup Naval bases in Islands across South China Sea. China has conducted various Naval exercises along the Spratley Paracel Islands, and has also released statements about disputes in the area.

 
       China has setup the ADIZ zone which prevents any American Patrol near the troubled South China sea, where American have bases in Philippines and Taiwan and have used to conduct scheduled patrols over the Horizon to prevent Chinese presence in that area.  America has time and again provoked the control of China by flying over the ADIZ zone. China has warned India about exploring oil reserves in the disputed waters and has time and again said any activities in the troubled waters will only provoke action by the Chinese navy.

 
       But Recently India too has warned China that it would use its naval force to secure its interest in South China Sea and Chinese Military watchers too have expressed concerns over the activities of Indian Nay along the troubled Spratly and Paracel Islands.





     But the message has been aired clearly to China "India will not hesitate to use Naval Power to protect its economic interest in South China Sea if the need arises"

Vietnam's Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung (C) shakes hands with his counterpart Narendra Modi (R) as Dung's wife Tran Thanh Kien looks on during Dung's ceremonial reception at the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi on 28 October 2014. Reuters/Adnan Abidi

Indo Vietnam Naval Officials on board a Vietnam Naval Ship

Editor Karthik Kakoor