India to train Vietnam's Sukhoi Su-30MK2 fighter pilots

India on 5 December 2016 inked an agreement with Hanoi to train the pilots of Vietnam's fleet of Russian-made Sukhoi Su-30MK2 'Flanker F' multirole combat aircraft.

The agreement was signed in New Delhi by Indian Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar and his Vietnamese counterpart, General Ngo Xuan Lich.

Key highlights of the agreement

• As per the deal, the training of the fighter pilots from the Vietnam People's Army Air Force (VPAAF) by Indian Air Force (IAF) instructors will commence in early 2017.

• The two air forces are expected to imminently work out the details on the number of pilots to be trained, the scope of their instruction and the overall cost.

• The overall cost will not be paid through the USD 500 million Line of Credit (LoC) extended by Delhi to Hanoi for defence procurements.

Comment

Both India and Vietnam operate Russian Su-30 jets. However, the two countries’ models differ slightly in their configuration. India operates over 200 Su-30MKI fighters and nine Kilo-class diesel electric submarines.

Both the countries have been steadily enhancing their cooperation, especially in the defence sector, against the backdrop of the growing assertiveness of China in the region.

Bilateral ties between Indian and Vietnam recently received a further impetus when Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Vietnam in September 2016.