Recently, neighboring Vietnam has shown an ambitious side, particularly notable for its keen interest in the Su-57. This decision was seen as an unmistakable expression of ambitions in the Straits of Malacca region. Vietnam did not hesitate to invest heavily in the introduction of this stealth fighter, which triggered strong comments from some netizens that Vietnam would not be treated mercifully if there was a war.
The Su-57 has always been controversial, especially from a technical point of view, its design does not have much innovation, and still uses some elements of the Soviet era. Despite the much-criticized stealth capabilities, this fighter excels in aerodynamic layout. In addition, the Su-57's increased magazine capacity makes it highly competitive at close range and supersonic flights. The Su-57 also carries KS172 ultra-long-range air-to-air missiles with a range of more than 400 kilometers, which pose a threat to enemy AWACS aircraft and stealth bombing agencies. In addition, Russia has developed an anti-stealth system to compensate for the lack of stealth performance of the Su-57. Although the effectiveness of this system is yet to be verified, it is enough to deter F22 fighters with stealth technology.
As a major exporter in Southeast Asia, Vietnam's economy has continued to grow in recent years, becoming one of the fastest growing countries in the world. Especially under the impact of the global public health crisis, Vietnam's economy has not fallen but risen. However, Vietnam is not satisfied with economic growth, they have always wanted to improve their position in the international community. To this end, they continue to introduce various weapons and equipment to enhance their military strength.
Vietnam ranks 23rd in the world's ranking of military power, and although it still lags behind some major countries, it is definitely a rival to be reckoned with in Southeast Asia. They have previously imported more than 40 Su-27 and Su-30 fighters from Russia, and can even repair the Su-27 themselves. Although Vietnam's industrial base is relatively weak and it lacks the ability to develop core technologies independently, their potential cannot be underestimated.
In recent years, Vietnam has been trying to gain international discourse, especially in the oil and gas disputes in the southern seas, and they actively please the United States, hoping to get the support of the United States. While this could mean handing over military command to the United States, Vietnam doesn't seem to mind because the ultimate goal is to maximize benefits.