Vietnam eyes Western warplanes, patrol aircraft to counter China

Vietnam is in talks with European and U.S. contractors to buy fighter jets, maritime patrol planes and unarmed drones, sources said, as it looks to beef up its aerial defences in the face of China's growing assertiveness in disputed waters.

The battle-hardened country has already taken possession of three Russian-built Kilo-attack submarines and has three more on order as part of a $2.6 billion (1.69 billion pounds) deal agreed in 2009. Upgrading its air force would give Vietnam one of the most potent militaries in Southeast Asia.

Boeing To Showcase Key Defence Systems, Capabilities At LIMA 2015

Boeing and Kongsberg Defense Systems of Norway completed a successful check of the Joint Strike Missile (JSM) on an F/A-18F Super Hornet at the Boeing St. Louis facility to ensure the weapons fit on the aircraft’s external pylons

KUALA LUMPUR, March 12 -- The Maritime Surveillance Aircraft (MSA) and F/A-18E/F Super Hornet will, among others, be showcased at the Langkawi International Maritime & Aerospace Exhibition (LIMA) from March 17-21, 2015.

Other key Boeing capabilities to be featured include the AH-6i Light Attack/ Reconnaissance helicopter and the ScanEagle from Boeing subsidiary, Insitu Pacific, Boeing said in a statement.