What do international experts say about Vietnam's Truong Son coastal defense missile complex?

At the Vietnam Defence Expo 2024, one of the important highlights is the appearance of the Truong Son surface-to-sea missile complex, researched and developed by the Military Industry and Telecommunications Group (Viettel). This is a modern weapon product of Vietnam, bringing pride in its self-reliance in the defense industry and can significantly enhance the country's coastal defense strength.

Unique capabilities and modern technology

According to information at the exhibition area, the Truong Son VCS-01 missile complex, displayed in the outdoor area of the exhibition, is a mobile coastal defense system, designed to deal with threats at sea. The main components of this system include the VTRV-01 missile loading vehicle, the VCPV-01 command and control vehicle, the VLV-01 launcher vehicle, along with the VRS-MCX target warning and indication radar system, and the Song Hong VSM-01A anti-ship missile. The Song Hong VSM-01A missile is the main combat component of this complex, tasked with destroying surface warships with a range of up to 80km, double the range of previous similar missiles.

The VSM-01A missile operates at subsonic speeds and is equipped with an updated guidance system to improve accuracy in destroying targets. The radar system of the Truong Son complex has a scanning range of about 200km, capable of detecting and tracking targets at sea, meeting the need for effective combat in all conditions. In particular, the tilting launcher of this complex is designed in a modular manner, allowing easy reloading of missiles after each attack, helping to enhance the ability to attack continuously.

Developed as a successor to the Soviet-era 4K51 Rubezh missile system, the VCS-01 is capable of launching up to eight missiles, with each vehicle carrying four missiles. This not only increases firepower compared to older systems, but also improves the flexibility and maneuverability of vehicles in combat formations. The VLV-01 can be put into service in less than 10 minutes, and is equipped with automatic tire inflation technology that maintains mobility even if several tires are damaged.

According to information from Army Recognition, the Truong Son VCS-01 missile complex not only brings strong coastal defense power to Vietnam but also clearly demonstrates the country's self-reliant defense development strategy in an increasingly complex geopolitical context. Developing domestic weapons helps Vietnam reduce its dependence on foreign suppliers, while adjusting military technology to suit the country's specific conditions and needs. This also demonstrates efforts to develop a sustainable defense industry through cooperation with state-owned enterprises and domestic research institutes.

The pride of Vietnam's defense industry

According to Army Recognition, the development and testing of the Song Hong VSM-01A missile has been taking place since 2018 in Quynh Luu district (Nghe An) and Tien Hai district (Thai Binh), and by April 2024, this missile will be officially put into use in military units, including Brigade 679 of Naval Region 1. The VSM-01A missile has also been tested on modified Shershen-class torpedo boats, demonstrating the system's features and capabilities in combat conditions at sea.

Military analysts from Army Recognition assessed that the development of the Truong Son VCS-01 and VSM-01A missile systems shows that Vietnam is proactively improving its defense capabilities and reducing its dependence on external weapons supplies. In the context of increasing international tensions, this product not only has great potential in protecting maritime sovereignty but also makes an important contribution to Vietnam's anti-access/area denial (A2/AD) system. Military analyst Erwan Halna Du Fretay from Army Recognition also expressed his impression of the quality and potential of this missile system, emphasizing that the Truong Son system can play an important role in protecting Vietnam's territory and maritime interests, especially in the context of ongoing tensions in the East Sea.

With continuous efforts in research and development, the Truong Son missile system not only affirms Vietnam's self-reliance in national defense, but also contributes to strengthening the country's military capacity, meeting increasingly high defense requirements in the context of volatile regional and global security.

Chuyên gia quốc tế nói gì về tổ hợp tên lửa phòng thủ bờ biển Trường Sơn của Việt Nam?

The Truong Son VCS-01 missile complex, displayed in the outdoor area of the exhibition, is a mobile coastal defense system, designed to deal with threats at sea. - Photo: The Duy

The VSM-01A missile operates at subsonic speeds and is equipped with an updated guidance system to improve accuracy in destroying targets. - Photo: The Duy