Vietnam Shows Off New Missile System
The Vietnamese armed forces showcased what appears to be a new cruise missile system during a dress rehearsal for a large-scale military parade ahead of the 80th anniversary of the August Vietnamese Revolution and National Day celebrations on September 2.
The event, held at the National Military Training Center No. 4 near Hanoi, marked the first joint exercise involving thousands of troops and military hardware. More than 15,000 troops participated, along with a parade of tanks, artillery, and special vehicles. However, the main focus was a missile system developed by Viettel, which caught the attention of defense analysts monitoring Vietnam's weapons development.
Vietnamese military observers noted that the system on display is part of the Viettel Aerospace Institute (VTX) family of subsonic cruise missiles. The new system reportedly includes variants with a range of 80 to 100 kilometers, designed for anti-ship and land-attack missions.
Sources familiar with the program have indicated that the design is likely based on the Russian Kh-35E missile, although Hanoi has not confirmed any direct link. The domestically developed family of cruise missiles underscores Vietnam's efforts to achieve greater self-reliance in critical defense technologies.
According to military sources, the country's missile inventory now includes systems with ranges of 100 km, 130 km, and 300 km. Notably, the original 80 km VCM-01 variant has not yet entered operational service, leading to speculation that the latest version may represent a significant upgrade.
The Viettel Aerospace Institute has been leading efforts to expand the country's missile development capacity. Over the past decade, Vietnam has increased its investment in domestic weapons programs, citing the need to strengthen deterrence and reduce dependence on foreign suppliers.
The public unveiling of these new systems comes amid rising tensions in the South China Sea, where Hanoi continues to assert its territorial claims while modernizing its air and naval forces.
