India Denies Selling BrahMos Cruise Missiles to Vietnam

19 Agustus 2017

BrahMos missile system (photo : India Today)

Just talks, no sale of BrahMos cruise missiles to Vietnam: MEA

New Delhi: India on Friday refuted reports that Vietnam had acquired BrahMos supersonic anti-ship cruise missiles from India. 

Addressing the weekly MEA briefing, spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said, “Vietnam has clarified that their spokesperson did not confirm the sale but had just talked about defence and strategic relations.”

Earlier, Vietnam Foreign Ministry said the country was persistent in pursuing the national defence policy of peace and self-defence.

Terming it as a normal defence practice, Vietnam Foreign Ministry maintained that the procurement of defence equipment was consistent with the policy of peace and self-defence. (Deccan Chronicle)

Vietnam responds to information of purchasing cruise missiles from India

The Hanoitimes - Vietnam’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang on Thursday responded to the information of Vietnam purchasing missiles from India.

According to WorldTribune, Vietnam will receive the BrahMos which is considered one of the most effective and lethal anti-ship missiles in the world, with speeds reaching Mach 2.8 to 3.0. The BrahMos can be launched from submarines, ships, aircraft or land. It was developed jointly by India’s Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) and Russia’s NPO Mashinostroeyenia. The missile is heavily based on the Russian P-800 Oniks cruise missile and other similar sea-skimming Russian cruise missile technology.

Replying the question of reporter about this information, Hang said, India – Vietnam relationship developed in numerous areas including economy, society and security cooperation. Especially in Security cooperation, two sides contributed positively to the peace, sustainability in region and over the world. “Vietnam and India maintained the self-defend and peaceful policy. The weapon purchase is normal action and in line with Vietnam national defense policy”, Hang added. However, she didn’t confirm the information about BrahMos purchase.

On September, 2016 Indian PM Narendra Modi visited Vietnam and had bilateral talks with his Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Xuan Phuc, as well as President Tran Dai Quang. Vietnam is India’s important strategic partner and the visit is aimed at further strengthening bilateral ties, including defense, security and trade. During the trip, Modi announced a $500 million credit line to Vietnam to buy defence equipment, on top of a $100 million given previously to help it buy patrol boats. The two sides have also agreed for training of Vietnamese air force pilots to operate Su-30 Russian fighter planes.

It was published by Reuters  in Feb 2017 that: “India is in talks to sell short range surface-to-air missiles to Vietnam, the head of India's defense research agency said on Wednesday, in what would be its first transfer of such weapons to the Southeast Asian country.” (HanoiTimes)