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Revision as of 20:23, 17 February 2010

This article is about the current Vietnam's air force. For air force of former Republic of Vietnam, see Vietnam Air Force.
Vietnam People's Air Force
Không Quân Nhân Dân Việt Nam
Flag of the Vietnam People's Air Force
Flag of the Vietnam People's Air Force
Flag of Vietnam People's Army and flag of the Vietnam People's Air Force
Active1959 -
CountryVietnam
Size30,000 personnel
551 active aircraft
Anniversaries3 April - first claimed shootdown of US fighter (1965)
EngagementsVietnam War
Cambodian-Vietnamese War
Sino-Vietnamese War
Commanders
Current
commander		Major General Nguyen Duc Suat (2003)[1]
Insignia
Roundel
Aircraft flown
AttackSu-22, Mi-24
FighterSu-30, Su-27, MiG-21
PatrolKa-27, Ka-25
ReconnaissanceM-400, An-30
TrainerYak-52, L-39
TransportAn-38, M-28, An-24, UH-1, Mi-8, Mi-17

Vietnam People's Air Force or Không Quân Nhân Dân Việt Nam is the air force of Vietnam. It is the successor of the former North Vietnamese Air Force and the absorbed Republic of Vietnam Air Force following the re-unification of Vietnam in 1975.

General History

Beginning-1964 (North Vietnam)

The first Vietnamese aircraft were two trainers, a de Havilland Tiger Moth and a Morane-Saulnier, which were initially the private property of the emperor Bao Dai[2]. In 1945, Bao Dai gave the aircraft to the Vietnamese government. On March 9, 1949, Ho Chi Minh ordered the organization of the Air Force Research Committee (Ban Nghiên Cứu Không Quân)[2]. The first Vietnamese service aircraft flight was made by the Tiger Moth on August 15, 1949[2]. A small-scale training was carried out in following years.

Further development of aviation in North Vietnam began in 1956, when a number of trainees were sent to the USSR and China for pilot training. They were organized into two schools (Trung Hang Không So) in North Vietnam, for pilots and mechanics, respectively; and among others, utilized the Czechoslovak Zlin Z-226 and Aero Ae-45. The first unit of the Air Force (Không Quân Nhân Dân Việt Nam) was the No. 919 Transport Regiment (Trung Đoàn Không Quân Vận Tải 919), organized on May 1, 1959, with An-2, Li-2, Il-14 aircraft, followed by the No. 910 Training Regiment (Trung Đoàn Không Quân 910) with Yak-18 trainers[2]. In 1963 the Air Force and Air Defense Force were merged into the Air and Air Defence Force (Phòng Không - Không Quân Nhân Dân Việt Nam).

1964-1974 (North Vietnam)

The first North Vietnamese combat plane was a T-28 Trojan trainer, whose pilot defected from the Laotian Air Force; it was utilized from early 1964 by the North Vietnamese as a night fighter. The T-28 was the first North Vietnamese aircraft to shoot down a U.S. aircraft, a C-123, on February 15, 1964.[2].

The North Vietnamese Air Force (NVAF) received its first jet fighter aircraft, the MiG-17 in February 1964, but they were initially stationed at air bases in Communist China, while their pilots were being trained. On February 3, 1964, the first fighter regiment No. 921 "Sao Do" was formed (Trung Đoàn Không Quân Tiêm Kích 921), and on August 6 it arrived from China in North Vietnam with its MiG-17s[2]. On September 7, the No. 923 fighter regiment "Yen The", led by Lt. Binh Bui, was formed. In May 1965, No. 929 bomber squadron (Đại Đội Không Quân Ném Bom 929) was formed with Il-28 twin engine bombers. Only one Il-28 sortie was flown in 1972 against Laotian forces.

File:TombMig17.JPG
Model of Vietnam War era Mig-17

The North Vietnamese Air Force's first jet air-to-air engagement with U.S. aircraft was on April 3, 1965. The NVAF claimed the shooting down of one US Navy F-8 Crusader, which was not confirmed by US sources, although they acknowledged having encountered MiGs[2]. Consequently, April 3rd became "North Vietnamese Air Force Day". On April 4 the VPAF (NVAF) scored the first confirmed victories to be acknowledged by both sides. The US fighter community was shocked when relatively slow, post-Korean era MiG-17 fighters shot down advanced F-105 Thunderchief fighters-bombers attacking the Thanh Hoa Bridge. The two downed F-105s were carrying their normal heavy bomb load, and were not able to react to their attackers[2].

In 1965, the NVAF were supplied with supersonic MiG-21s by the USSR which were used for high speed GCI controlled hit and run intercepts against USAF strike groups. The MiG-21 tactics became so effective, that by late 1966, an operation was mounted to especially deal with the MiG-21 threat. Led by Colonel Robin Olds on January 2, 1967, Operation Bolo lured MiG-21s into the air, thinking they were intercepting a F-105 strike group, but instead found a sky full of missile armed F-4 Phantom II Phantoms set for aerial combat. The result was a loss of almost half the inventory of MiG-21 interceptors, at a cost of no US losses. The VPAF (NVAF) stood down for additional training after this setback.

Meanwhile, the disappointing performances of US Air Force and US Navy (USN) airmen, even though flying the contemporary advanced aircraft of those times, combined with a legacy of successes from WWII and the Korean War; resulted in a total revamping of aerial combat training for the USN in 1968 (Top Gun school; established 1969). The designs for an entire generation of aircraft, with engineering for optimized daylight air to air combat (dog fighting) against both older, as well as for emerging MiG fighters, were being put to the drawing board. US forces could not consistantly track low flying MiGs on radar, and were hampered by restrictive Rules of Engagement (ROE) which required pilots to visually acquire their targets, nullifying much of the advantage of radar guided missiles, which often proved unreliable when used in combat.

Although there were many so-called "political restrictions" placed on US airmen, such as when and where NVAF jet fighters could be attacked; the successful exchange ratio which US pilots had had over enemy fliers during the Korean War (1950-1953) was not to be repeated over North Vietnam; with the notable exceptions of the successes by USN airmen who had completed training from the TOPGUN training center at Miramar, California (USA).

The VPAF (NVAF) was a defensive air arm, with the primary mission of defending North Vietnam, and until the last stages of the war, did not conduct air operations into South Vietnam; nor did the NVAF conduct general offensive actions against enemy naval forces off the coast. However it did conduct limited attacks on the opposing naval vessels, notably damaging the United States destroyer Higbee in 1972. In a separate incident, Mig-17s that ventured over water were shot down by Surface-to-Air Missiles (SAM)s fired by U.S. warships.

The VPAF (NVAF) did not engage all US sorties. Most US aircraft were destroyed by SA-2 Surface to Air Missiles or Anti-Aircraft Artillery (AAA). Typically, VPAF MiGs would not engage unless it was to their advantage. Some of the aerial tactics used, were similar to Operation Bolo, which lured the NVAF to the fight.

On March 24, 1967 regiments Nos. 921, 923 and 919 were incorporated into the 371st Air Division "Thang Long" (Sư Đoàn Không Quân 371). In 1969, No. 925 fighter regiment was formed, flying the Shenyang J-6 (the Chinese-built MiG-19). In 1972 the fourth fighter regiment, No. 927 "Lam Son", was formed[2].

US Navy ace Randy Cunningham believed that he shot down the legendary "Nguyen Toon" or "Colonel Tomb" while flying his F4 Phantom. However, no research has been able to identify any "Col. Tomb" as actually existing. Most likely he downed a flight leader of the 923rd Regiment.[3] Many North Vietnamese pilots were not only skilled but unorthodox, as Cunningham found out after making elementary tactical errors.[4] The resulting dogfight became extended. Cunningham climbed steeply, and the MiG pilot surprised Cunningham by climbing as well. Using his Top Gun training, Cunningham finally forced the MiG out ahead of him and destroyed it.

There were several times during the war that the U.S. bombing restrictions of North Vietnamese Airfields were lifted. Many VPAF (NVAF) aircraft were destroyed on the ground, and those that were not, were withdrawn to a sanctuary in Red China. The North Vietnamese air defences exhausted their supply of Surface to Air Missiles trying to down the high flying B-52 raids over the North. The North Vietnamese Air Defense Network was degraded by Electronic Countermeasures (ECM) and other Suppression of Enemy Defenses (SEAD) measures. However, the sheer volume of missiles (mass firings) claimed over 15 of the heavy bombers (B-52)s, during the last weeks of 1972 (Operation Linebacker II).

After the negotiated end of American involvement in early 1973, the No. 919 transport corps (Lữ Đoàn Không Quân 371), was formed; and equipped with fix-winged aircraft, as well as helicopters (rotor-wing) in November.

During the Vietnam War, NVAF used the MiG-17F, PF (J-5); MiG-19 (J-6), MiG-21F-13, PF, PFM and MF fighters[2].

1975-present (Reunified Vietnam)

The VPAF did not play a major role during the Ho Chi Minh Campaign in 1975. The only sorties flown were conducted by five captured VNAF A-37s. SA-2s were transported into South Vietnam to counter possible US military air strikes. The US held back air power during the 1975 offensive, which had proven decisive in 1972, and the VNAF did not have the capability to strike targets in the north nor to defend against the onslaught in the south.

After the end of the Vietnam War (called the American War in Vietnam) in May 1975, more regiments were formed. No. 935 fighter regiment "Dong Nai" and no. 937 fighter-bomber regiment "Hau Giang" (Trung Đoàn Không Quân Cường Kích 937), followed by no. 918 transport regiment "Hong Ha" (Trung Đoàn Không Quân Vận Tải 918) and no. 917 mixed transport regiment "Dong Thap" were created in July 1975. In September 1975, the four newly created regiments were formed into the 372nd Air Division (Sư Đoàn Không Quân 372). In December 1975, the 370th Air Division "Hai Van" was formed, including among others the 925th fighter regiment[2].

On May 31, 1977, the Vietnam People's Air Force (Không Quân Nhân Dân Việt Nam) was separated from the Air Defense Force (Phòng Không Việt Nam)[2].

When Vietnam invaded Cambodia in 1979, former VNAF A-37s flew most of the ground support missions. These aircraft were more suited to the role than the MiGs. Former VNAF F-5Es, C-123s, C-130s, and UH-1s were used by the VPAF for many years after the end of the War.

In the years between 1953 and 1991, approximately 700 warplanes, 120 helicopters, and 158 missile complexes have been supplied to North Vietnam by the USSR and Red China (primarily the MiG-19 (J6 series). Even today, three-quarters of Vietnamese weaponry has been made in post-Cold-War Russia. [1] Today the VPAF is in the midst of modernization. It still operates late model MiG-21s, Su-22s, Mig-23s, aircraft of the cold war era [2] [3]. However, it has recently been modernizing its air force with models of the Su-27-SK air superiority fighter following closer military ties, and an array of arms deals with Russia. To date, Vietnam has ordered and received 12 of these aircraft. In 2004, it also acquired 4 modified variants of the Su-30 MK2V, newer models of the Su-27. In May 2009, they have inked a deal to procure additional 12 aircraft from the Russian to bolster their aging fleet. In 1996, the VPAF tried to procure 2 squadrons of Dassault Mirage 2000 fighter from France, but the transaction was cancelled due to a United States arms embargo. The Vietnamese air force has also acquired new advanced air defense systems, including two S-300 PMU1 (NATO designation: SA-20) short-to-high altitude SAM batteries in a deal worth $300 million with Russia [4].

Vietnam War (US)

Air Division and Regimental Names of the VPAF[5]

Regiment/Division Name English Translation
370th Air Division Hai Van Ocean Clouds
371st Air Division Thang Long The Dragon Ascendant
372nd Air Division Le Loi Founder of the Le Dynasty
910th Air Training Regiment Julius Fučík Named for the Czech Marxist publicist
917th Mixed Air Transport Regiment Dong Thap Named for a province in South Vietnam
918th Air Transport Regiment Hong Ha Old name for the Red River
921st Fighter Regiment Sao Do Red Star
923rd Fighter Regiment Yen The Hill of the Peaceful Site
927th Fighter Regiment Lam Son Blue Hill
935th Fighter Regiment Dong Nai Named for a province in South Vietnam
937th Fighter-Bomber Regiment Hau Giang Named for a province in South Vietnam

MiG-17 and MiG-21 Aces of the VPAF[1][6]

Name Victories VPAF Aircraft Regiment Service
Nguyễn Văn Cốc Nine kills MiG-21 921st Fighter Regiment 1967-69
Mai Văn Cường Eight kills MiG-21 921st Fighter Regiment 1966-68
Nguyễn Hồng Nhị Eight kills MiG-21 921st/927th Fighter Regiment 1966-72
Phạm Thanh Ngân Eight kills MiG-21 921st Fighter Regiment 1967-69
Đặng Ngọc Ngự Seven kills MiG-21 921st Fighter Regiment 1966-72
Nguyễn Văn Bảy Seven kills MiG-17 923rd Fighter Regiment 1966-72
Lê Hải Six kills MiG-17 923rd Fighter Regiment 1967-72
Lê Thanh Đạo Six kills MiG-21 927th Fighter Regiment 1971-72
Lưu Huy Chao Six kills MiG-17 923rd Fighter Regiment 1966-68
Nguyễn Đăng Kỉnh Six kills MiG-21 921st Fighter Regiment 1967-68
Nguyễn Đức Soát Six kills MiG-21 921st/927th Fighter Regiment 1969-72
Nguyễn Ngọc Độ Six kills MiG-21 921st Fighter Regiment 1967-68
Nguyễn Nhật Chiêu Six Kills MiG-17/MiG-21 921st Fighter Regiment 1965-67
Nguyễn Tiến Sâm Six kills MiG-21 921st/927th Fighter Regiment 1968-72
Vũ Ngọc Đỉnh Six kills MiG-21 921st Fighter Regiment 1966-70
Nguyễn Văn Nghĩa Five kills MiG-21 927th Fighter Regiment 1972

Bases

Colonel Đỗ Minh Tuấn, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Vietnam People's Air Force and Air Defense.

Some airbases in the south were built by the French, Japanese* (WWII), United States Air Force or United States Navy for South Vietnam. The northern bases were likely built with assistance and/or use by the French; Communist Chinese, or Soviet Union during the Vietnam War.

  • Note: Japanese Nell bombers took off from airfields in the former South Vietnam on 10 December 1941, attacking and sinking the British battleship HMS Prince of Wales and battlecruiser HMS Repulse.


The following bases have been retired from the VPAF:

Aircraft Inventory

Most of the VPAF's aircraft were supplied from the Soviet Union & Red China, but hundreds were left over by the Americans via the Republic of Vietnam; most of which are no longer in service.

Template:Standard table ! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Aircraft ! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Origin ! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Type ! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Versions ! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|In service ! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Notes |----- ! style="align: center; background: lavender;" colspan="7" | Fighter Aircraft |----- | Sukhoi Su-30MK2V "Flanker" |  Russia | air-superiority fighter | Su-30MK2V | 12 | 24 on order |----- | Sukhoi Su-27SK/UB Flanker |  Russia | air-superiority fighter | Su-27 | 36 | |----- | Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23ML/UB Flogger G |  Soviet Union | air-superiority fighter | MIG-23 | 36[7] | 2 crashed during exercise near Cam Ranh base in 2004. VPAF decided to discontinued support for Mig-23 by replacing its through Su-30MK2V program. | |----- | Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21Bis Fishbed L/N |  Soviet Union | fighter | MiG-21 | 200 | Over half of the Mig-21 fighters are decommissioned due to aged equipment and avionics, later replacing by Su-30Mk2V. | |----- | Sukhoi Su-22M3/4 Fitter-J/K |  Soviet Union | attack | Su-22 | 145+ | on 9 June 2009, 1 crashed during training by captain Trần Thanh Nghị, the pilot perished on the accident. | |----- ! style="align: center; background: lavender;" colspan="7" | Trainer Aircraft |----- | Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21U Mongol |  Soviet Union | trainer | MiG-21U | 24 | on 12 November 2009, 1 crashed during training near city of Yen Bai, Senior Lt. Colonel Nguyễn văn Vinh (996 flight hours), Senior commanding officer of the 931st Wing, and Senior Lt. Captain Đặng hồng Vinh (351 flight hours), are the 2 pilots perished on this accident. Yen-Bai Airbase is the location among 2 training bases in the North Vietnam. The Mig-21U is a tandem twin-seats trainer from Yen-Bai Airbase, is among the last batch of fighter trainer variant from Mig-21, acquired from Soviet Union. There is also a Chinese version J-7 with the same characteristics. | |----- | Aero L-39 Albatros |  Czechoslovakia | jet trainer | L-39C | 24 + 10 | Additional 10 second hand L-39C obtained from Poland in 2003 - 2004. |----- | Yakovlev Yak-52 |  Soviet Union | prop trainer | Yak-52 | 36 |----- | Yakovlev Yak-130 |  Russia | jet trainer | Yak-130 | 8 on order |----- ! style="align: center; background: lavender;" colspan="7" | Transport Aircraft- Vietnam Airlines fleet could also be requisitioned |----- | Lockeed C-130B/E Hercules |  United States | medium transport | Total
C-130B
C-130E | 7
3
4 | only C-130E may returned to service in 2012, not C-130B. But negotiation is on the way for new C-130H or C-130J. |----- | Antonov An-26 Curl |  Soviet Union | transport | An-26 | 48 | |----- | Antonov An-24 Coke |  Soviet Union/ Ukraine | regional airliner/transport | An-24 | 12 | No longer in service, replacing by PZL M-28 Skytruck. | |----- | Antonov An-38 |  Soviet Union | transport | An-38 | 6 | |----- | PZL M-28 Skytruck |  Poland | transport | PZL M-28 | 9+2 | 1 crashed, 2 on order, Przemyslowy Instytut Telekomunik-acji (PIT) MSC-400 maritime surveillance systems with PIT ASR-400 radars and PIT CCS-400 onboard command-and- control modules |----- | Antonov An-2 Colt |  Soviet Union | STOL transport | An-2 | 15 | at least 5 fitted with Ub-16 rocket pods for use as FAC aircraft |----- | Yakovlev Yak-40 Codling |  Soviet Union | VIP transport | Yak-40 | 15 | |----- ! style="align: center; background: lavender;" colspan="7" | Maritime Patrol Aircraft |----- | Beriev Be-12 Mail |  Soviet Union | Maritime Patrol Bomber/ASW | Be-12 | 4 | |----- ! style="align: center; background: lavender;" colspan="7" | Reconnaissance Aircraft |----- | Antonov An-30 Clank |  Soviet Union | reconnaissance | An-30 | 8 | |----- | CASA C.212 Aviocar |  Spain | reconnaissance | CASA C.212-400 | 3[8][9][10] | Swedish Space Corporation (SSC) MS6000 maritime surveillance system with Side-Looking Airborne Radar. Under Vietnam Marine Police control. |----- ! style="align: center; background: lavender;" colspan="7" | Attack Helicopter |----- | Mil Mi-24 Hind |  Soviet Union | attack helicopter | Mil Mi-24A/D | 36 | |----- ! style="align: center; background: lavender;" colspan="7" | Transport Helicopter |----- | Mi-8 Hip |  Soviet Union | transport | Mil Mi-8 | 66 | |----- | Mi-17 Hip-H |  Soviet Union | transport | Total
Mil Mi-17Sh
Mil Mi-172 | 69
27
18 | |----- | Mi-6 Hook-A |  Soviet Union | heavy lift helicopter | Mi-6 | 10-15 | |----- | PZL W-3 Sokol |  Poland | VIP helicopter/ SAR helicopter | Total
PZL W-3S
PZL W-3RM | 8
4
4 | |----- | Kamov Ka-32S Helix-C |  Soviet Union | SAR Helicopter | Ka-32 | 5 | |----- | Kamov Ka-25 Hormone |  Soviet Union | ASW helicopter | Ka-25 | 6 | |----- | Ka-27 Helix |  Soviet Union | ASW helicopter | Ka-27 | 19 | |----- | Eurocopter Dauphin |  France | SAR helicopter | SA-365 N2 | 5 | from the Ministry of Defence |----- | Eurocopter Ecureuil |  France | light utility helicopter | AS-350 B3 | 5 | from the Ministry of Defence |----- | Aérospatiale Puma |  France | civilian transport | SA-330J | 9 | from the Ministry of Defence |----- | Aérospatiale Super Puma |  France | civilian transport | AS-332L2 | 7 | from the Ministry of Defence. 1 Super Puma operated by Southern Service Flight Company (SFC) was lost in sea transportation mission for offshore platform in 2007. |----- | UH-1H Huey |  United States | utility | UH-1H | 15 | Back to service since 2007. |----- ! style="align: center; background: lavender;" colspan="7" | Miscellaneous Aircraft |----- | VNS-41 |  Vietnam | amphibious | VNS-41 | 7-12? | domestic produced light plane type ULM with floatation devices. |----- | M-400 UAV |  Vietnam | UAV | M-400 | 2; planned 12? | No longer in service due to lack of GPS electronic components. | |----- |}

Retired:

Some jet fighters (F-5s and A-37s) were auctioned in 1998, and are currently owned by private companies, and individuals in America, Australia, New Zealand, and Europe.

The current procurement plan of the VPAF is to equip up to 3 regiments with 3 x 24 Sukhoi Su-30 "Flanker" until 2015.

See also

References

  1. ^ http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_hb5594/is_/ai_n23575205
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l S.V.Ivanov, Boyevoye primenenye MiG-17 i MiG-19 vo Vietnamye
  3. ^ Acepilots.com
  4. ^ Hall, George (1987). Top Gun: The Navy's Fighter Weapons School. Presido Press.
  5. ^ MiG-17 and MiG-19 Units of the Vietnam War by István Toperczer
  6. ^ MiG-21 Units of the Vietnam War by István Toperczer
  7. ^ Mig-23/27 Flogger by Yelfim Gordon and Keith Dexter
  8. ^ http://www.straitstimes.com/vgn-ext-templating/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=56229de72565f110VgnVCM100000430a0a0aRCRD&vgnextchannel=0162758920e39010VgnVCM1000000a35010aRCRD
  9. ^ http://www.prioranet.com/?id=5104&cid=11523&DivId=5002&Year=2008
  10. ^ http://www.thenational.ae/article/20080603/FOREIGN/335996665/1002/NEWS
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