The Indian Defense Ministry said on Monday that it is trying to enhance the scope and scale of defense cooperation with Vietnam with Defense Minister Rajnath Singh holding talks with his Vietnamese counterpart General Phan Van Gang.
Both the ministers during Monday's meeting identified means to enhance existing areas of collaboration, especially in the field of defence industry cooperation, maritime security and multinational cooperation, the ministry said in a statement.
Today, Singh also gifted the locally manufactured missile corvette "INS Kirpan" to the Vietnam People's Navy which would help it in securing the Southeast Asian country's maritime borders.
Both the ministers during Monday's meeting identified means to enhance existing areas of collaboration, especially in the field of defence industry cooperation, maritime security and multinational cooperation, the ministry said in a statement.
Today, Singh also gifted the locally manufactured missile corvette "INS Kirpan" to the Vietnam People's Navy which would help it in securing the Southeast Asian country's maritime borders.
Military engagements between India and Vietnam have witnessed an uptick in recent years with the armed forces of the two countries regularly holding war exercises, especially on the seas.
Among other things, Hanoi and New Delhi have emphasized military exchanges, visits by high-ranking defense officials, and partnering with each other on UN Peacekeeping missions.
Among other things, Hanoi and New Delhi have emphasized military exchanges, visits by high-ranking defense officials, and partnering with each other on UN Peacekeeping missions.
Will Hanoi Acquire Brahmos Missiles from India?
Singh's remarks come at a time when there has been intense speculation that Hanoi would finalize and announce a $625 million deal for three to five units of the Brahmos missiles during their Defense Minister's visit to India.
Widely regarded as the fastest supersonic cruise missile in the world, Brahmos has been jointly developed by India's Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Russia's NPO Mashinostroyeniya.
Since being inducted into the Indian Army in 2007, the Brahmos missile has undergone several upgrades and now has different versions that can be fired from a submarine, warship, air, and land. It currently forms the mainstay of India's conventional missile arsenal.
The missile is believed to have a range of 450 km as of now with other extended variants under development.
However, Vietnam would not become the first country to acquire Brahmos missiles from India: last year, the Philippines became the first nation to ink a contract for the Brahmos missiles, having agreed to acquire three batteries of the weapons system for $374.96 million.