A Czech government source told Reuters that Vietnam is seeking aircraft, radars, armored vehicle improvements, and weapons from the Czech Republic to diversify its primarily Russian arsenal.
The official said Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala’s three-day visit to Vietnam last week focused on security, as security businesses comprised most of his business group.
The former Soviet satellite state’s military firms are skilled at retrofitting Russian gear and making new equipment compatible with Soviet legacy arms. This is especially valuable in Vietnam, where 80% of the local arsenal is estimated to come from Russia.
According to SIPRI, Prague has been the EU’s leading arms exporter to Vietnam for two decades.
In 2021, Hanoi bought 12 Aero Vodochody L-39NG light-combat aircraft for delivery this year. The insider, who attended high-level discussions and requested anonymity, said there are internal talks to provide more similar planes.
“The two leaders agreed to step up cooperation in security-defence,” the Vietnamese government declared after meeting with Fiala and Pham Minh Chinh.
The official said that if large supply deals were reached, Prague might help weapons technology transfer and local manufacture.
Four security enterprises made up the Czech business delegation of 15. They formally named Czechoslovak Group, Colt CZ Group, Omnipol, and STV GROUP.
The four corporations declined to comment.
Omnipol owns Aircraft Industries, the Czech L 410 NG freight aircraft manufacturer, which Vietnamese military procurement officers addressed last week. The Czech delegation’s Asian journey included consultations with Indonesian civilian authorities and Philippines equivalents.
In Vietnam, the official added that Omnipol officials discussed selling dual-use radars for civilian and military airports.
STV Group and Czechoslovak Group explored upgrading Vietnam’s Soviet-made tanks and armored vehicles in Hanoi.
The source said the companies might provide spare parts and maintenance under those contracts, but conversations were preliminary, and no new arrangement was struck last week.
A Czechoslovak Group official at Excalibur Army said talks on new armored vehicles, rocket launchers, and howitzers were moving slowly.
The Vietnam foreign ministry and Czech embassy in Hanoi did not respond.
The source added Colt CZ Group, the Czech holding firm that owns the long-established U.S. carbine and rifle maker, discussed firearm sales.
