Vietnam Coast Guard will have its Own Air Force?

26 Januari 2020

Vietnam will expand its NC-212i fleet (photo : Alec Wilson) 

Following the development trend, the construction of future Marine Police Command units is gradually becoming an urgent requirement.

Currently, Vietnam Coast Guard has been equipped with specialized aircraft, CASA C-212 series manufactured by Airbus Group and upcoming NC-212i variant assembled by Indonesia under licenced.

The C-212 were painted blue with the logo and the words "Vietnam Coast Guard" on the body, but the aircraft were delivered to the 918 Air Brigade for exploitation.

This is not unusual when the Vietnam Coast Guard has not built enough facilities to ensure technical logistics and maintenance for specialized aircraft, leaving 918 Brigade responsible for help overcome the above weakness.

However, in the future, when the number of C-212 and NC-212i increases, they may be handed over to the Coast Guard to facilitate the maneuver.

Recently appeared the image of NC-212i aircraft being completed by Indonesian partner, although it bears the same color as C-295M and the words "Vietnam Air Force" but it is highly likely that it still serves the Coast Guard. For most.

NC-212i of Vietnam conducted test flight (photo : BaoDatViet)

Not only have wing aircraft, now Vietnam's maritime law enforcement force has been in the service of many large patrol boats designed with hangars capable of carrying helicopters on long voyages,  days like DN-2000 or Hamilton's new class.

While the Navy had Ka-28 submarine hunting helicopters under the 954 Naval Air Brigade to coordinate the fighting, the Coast Guard did not have the right means. Experts say that taking Ka-28 onto offshore patrol boats is a waste and is not really suitable because it causes overlap.

However, at the end of 2016, the appearance of EC-155B1 helicopter image of Vietnam Helicopter Corporation (18th Army) took over and landed on the flight deck of CSB 8004, the successful test showed that the prospect of this type of aircraft being selected to equip large patrol boats is very high.

If all goes well, in the future when each large patrol ship will be equipped with one accompanying helicopter, 5 more C-212 and NC-212i will be available. Should Vietnam Coast Guard establish a separate air force unit?

This is not too far-fetched, especially when we look back on the process of establishing the Navy Air Force, which has undergone the same steps as the Coast Guard at the present time.

If a separate air brigade is built, this will be a new milestone of the Vietnam Coast Guard, helping it to better fulfill its law enforcement duty on the islands and islands of the country new situation.

(Sputnik)