According to a Czech government source who spoke to British news agency Reuters, Vietnam is in discussions with the Czech Republic about purchasing planes, radars, modifications for armoured vehicles, and guns as Hanoi looks to diversify its primarily Russian arsenal.
The official noted that security businesses made up the majority of the business group that followed Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala during his three-day visit last week. Security was one of the primary issues discussed with Vietnamese authorities during Fiala’s visit, the official said.
As a former Soviet satellite state that excels at retrofitting Russian equipment and frequently produces new equipment that is compatible with Soviet legacy arms, a capability that is seen in high regard in Vietnam. It is estimated that 80% of Vietnam’s arsenal is made up of Russian weapons.
According to information from the Stockholm research tank SIPRI, Prague has already established itself as the principal supplier of weaponry to Vietnam on behalf of the European Union during the past 20 years.
The Czech company Aero Vodochody received a 2021 contract from Hanoi for twelve L-39NG light-combat aircraft, with deliveries set to start this year. The insider, who attended the high-level meetings but wished to remain anonymous because the discussions were internal, claimed that there were discussions about delivering additional of these aircraft.
The Vietnamese government reported that, among other things, “the two leaders agreed to step up cooperation in security-defence” following a meeting between Fiala and Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh.
Prague could enable the transfer of weaponry technology and local manufacture, the official claimed, if the deal was sufficiently made.
Four of the 15 businesses in the Czech business delegation were security companies. According to the official they were, Czechoslovak Group, Colt CZ Group, Omnipol, and STV GROUP.
As part of the Czech delegation’s tour of Asia, comparable discussions with civilian authorities from Indonesia and the Philippines took place in recent days.
STV Group and Czechoslovak Group discussed contracts in Hanoi to add modern technology, such as communication devices, to Vietnam’s Soviet-built tanks and armoured vehicles.
