VIETNAM AND FRANCE SIGN A LETTER OF INTENT ON COOPERATION FOR THE VNREDSAT-2 EARTH OBSERVATION SATELLITE
On September 10, 2026, in Paris, France, during the official visit to France and attendance at the Aerospace Summit by General Secretary and State President To Lam, Prof. Dr. Tran Hong Thai, President of the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology (VAST), signed a Letter of Intent on cooperation with the French Ministry of Economy, Finance, and Industrial, Energy and Digital Sovereignty to promote the VNREDSat-2 Earth observation satellite project.
Regarding VNREDSat-2, key enhancements include an operational orbital lifespan exceeding 10 years; a sub-meter spatial resolution (under 1m); enhanced satellite agility with imaging angles up to ±45 degrees; significantly improved stability for higher-precision imaging; a reduced revisit time of approximately 2 days; and highly automated control processes that minimize the effort and manpower required to operate the system. These advancements allow VNREDSat-2 to operate more efficiently than the current system, promising to expand remote sensing applications in Vietnam.
VNREDSat-1 has already demonstrated significant and effective contributions to socio-economic development and national defense and security through the acquisition of remote sensing imagery to monitor natural resources, geography, the environment, natural disasters, and climate change. Therefore, upgrading to VNREDSat-2 represents the next major step forward in Earth observation and geospatial imaging for Vietnam.
#Nka
Finale step of Vietnamese NH-90 LOI
French President Macron stated at a press conference on September 10:
“In this regard, we welcome the upcoming finalization of the 2025 Letter of Intent for the purchase of three NH90 helicopters from Airbus Helicopters to ensure maritime border security. This is the first time the specific quantity has been made clear.”
It should be recalled that Vietnam was reported to have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to acquire an undisclosed number of NH90s during French President Emmanuel Macron's official visit to Vietnam in May 2025.
#Nka
Yeah, at this point I can safely say you have the brain of a koala. It's laughable when you look at the T-1's massive chassis, which is completely different from the PT-76. Are you really demanding a light tank with STANAG Level 4 protection—a level of protection on par with the base armor of a certain medium tank assembled in a certain country?
Keep in mind that this deal is solely for political purposes. Just look at where other political deals made by Vietnam, like the CH-47, ended up. An MOU is not a formal contract, signing an MOU does not mean we will actually buy it in the future.
And guess what we don't include items that are merely at the MOU stage in "aircraft we are about to acquire" infographics, unlike a certain country. 😌😌😌
SO MAYBE MORE KILO FOR VIETNAM
Russian Project 636.1 "Varshavyanka" multi-purpose diesel-electric submarines are drawing interest from Vietnam ahead of the Russia–Vietnam Intergovernmental Commission meeting scheduled for October, according to Dmitry Shugaev, Director of Russia's Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation (FSVTS).
"We plan to hold the Russia–Vietnam Intergovernmental Commission meeting in October. There, of course, all issues will be discussed in detail, including matters related to naval equipment and submarine forces. Project 636 submarines—this is precisely the type of vessel that the Vietnamese side is keenly interested in," he stated in an interview.
#NKa
Vietnam has officially initiated the research, development, and domestic production of modern main battle tank ( T-2 tank) to meet emerging operational requirements.
#Nka
The new Vietnamese T-1 light amphibious tank, equipped with slat armor.
The vehicle is equipped with an electro-optical countermeasure system (EOСM), most likely a reverse-engineered version of the ruSSian Shtora.
The Vietnamese Army operates ruSSian T-90S MBTs equipped with the Shtora system, so this could potentially be a reverse-engineered version of it.
Automated 37mm AA battery.
All the 37mm AA guns used by the VPAF nowadays are Type 65 twin barrel variant. Supplied by the Chinese to the Khmer Rogue force, the number captured was so huge that the Soviet single barrel variant is now in storage or left for the militia.
#Nka
Phôto show that the Vietnam People's Air Force (VPAF) L-39NG is equipped with UB-16-57 rocket pods designed to fire 57mm S-5 rockets. This indicates that beyond its core role in intermediate flight training, the aircraft is also utilized for aerial rocket live-fire exercises. Notably, 57mm rocket pods are typically carried by helicopters and Su-22 strike fighters, whereas VPAF’s Su-27/30 fighters and Yak-130 light attack trainers are generally outfitted with pods firing larger 80mm S-8 rockets, strange right ?
#Nka