During the First Indochina War (1946âÂÂ1954), Vietnam War (1955âÂÂ1975), CambodianâÂÂVietnamese War (1977âÂÂ1989), Sino-Vietnamese War (1979) and the Sino-Vietnamese conflicts 1979â 1991 (1979âÂÂ1991), the Vietnam People's Ground Force relied almost entirely on Soviet-derived weapons and equipment systems. With the end of the Cold War in 1992 Soviet military equipment subsidies ended and Vietnam began the use of hard currency and barter to buy weapons and equipment. Vietnam prioritizes economic development and growth while maintaining defense spending. The government does not conduct procurement phases or major upgrades of weapons. From the end of the 1990s the Government of Vietnam has announced the acquisition of a number of strategic systems equipped with modern weapons. Accordingly, Vietnam has been slow to develop naval and air forces to control shallow waters and its exclusive economic zone (EEZ). Currently most defense procurement programs focus on remedying this priority. For example, Vietnam has purchased a number of combat aircraft and warships with the capability to operate in high seas. Vietnam also plans to develop its defense industry, with priority placed on the Navy, combined with assistance from its former communist allies; as well as India, and Japan.
Since 2015, Vietnam has begun exploring purchases of U.S. and European weapons while facing numerous political, historical, and financial barriers, as they cannot continue to rely on Soviet and Chinese weapons especially due to the increasing tensions in the South China Sea dispute.
The Military Balance of 2024 from the International Institute for Strategic Studies reported that Vietnam possessed approximately 12,000 guns, including ZSU-23-4 and towed anti-aircraft artillery in calibers of 14.5mm, 30mm, 37mm, 57mm, 85mm, and 100mm. The 85mm gun is possibly the KS-12/K-52. Additionally, Vietnam had a point defense system comprising the 9K32 Strela-2, 9K310 Igla-1, and 9K38 Igla.
Established in 1992, the Department of Electronic Warfare is part of the Vietnam People's Army.
This section includes weapons in planning, development, or testing phases. Existing systems being modified remain in notes.
Vietnam signed a 2002âÂÂ2005 military-technical cooperation agreement with Ukraine to upgrade armor and artillery, and improve co-production and repair. It also signed with Russia and developed domestic production and repair capabilities.