Vietnam and India are set to improve defence ties with the procurement of BrahMos, three to four OPVs and 14 patrol boats.
During a prior visit by Indian Prime Minister Modi to Vietnam, India had extended a $500 million line of credit for defence needs. P Kumaran, Secretary (East) of India’s Ministry of External Affairs stated in a press conference on May 6 that projects worth $300 million have already been identified: Vietnam will procure three to four Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs) from India, depending on the cost at which they’re tendered along with 14 high-speed patrol boats.
For the remaining $200 million, the upgradat of some Vietnam Navy ships and procurement of submarine batteries are being considered. India has also offered maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) support for Vietnam’s Su-30 fighters and Kilo-class submarines.
Vietnam will be the first major customer for Indian OPVs. India built and operates multiple OPVs between its Navy and Coast Guard with the NGOPV class being the latest under construction. Depending on the final number of vessels, Vietnam may build some of the OPVs under technology transfer.
In 2022, India had handed over 12 High Speed Guard Boats to the Vietnamese Border Guard. The 35 meter class vessels were procured under a $100 million line of credit. The initial five boats were built in the Larsen & Toubro (L&T) Shipyard in India and the other seven in Hong Ha Shipyard in Vietnam. The 14 patrol boats set to be purchased are likely to be of a similar class with the majority of the vessels likely to be built in Vietnam.
Mr. Kumaran confirmed that talks have taken place regarding BrahMos, stating: “We do talk about a number of platforms and BrahMos platform is also one of them.. watch this space.”
Recently, DRDO announced that Brahmos Aerospace had signed two export orders worth ₹4000 crores ($420 million) in 2025-26. Indonesia and Vietnam have long been interested in the system with reports suggesting that the combined value of both deals will be close to $420 million. Although DRDO and India’s Defence minister Rajnath Singh have mentioned the ₹4000 crore figure, no final deal has formally been signed.
Vietnam has a series of indigenous subsonic missiles under development with ranges of over 80 km, 250 km and 500 km. Vietnam currently operates Russian K-300P Bastion-P and Redut-M which will be complemented by BrahMos.
India and Vietnam have closely cooperated in defence affairs. India has trained VPN sailors for operating its Kilo-class submarines and also trained pilots and supplied spares for Vietnam’s fleet of Su-30s. In July 2023, India handed over its Khukri-class corvette INS Kirpan to the Vietnam Navy, which inducted it as HQ-26. India has also offered its Akash surface-to-air missiles.
