Advanced Ship Hunting Weapons for the Su-30: What to Expect From Vietnam’s New VCM-01 Cruise Missile

Amid growing investment in developing a domestic defence sector, Vietnam’s armed forces are expected to induct the VCM-01 anti ship cruise missile into service in the near future after the platform was unveiled in the final week of May 2020. The missile is heavily based on the Russia Kh-35UE design, which is produced under licence in the country, and will reportedly be deployed by Vietnamese Su-30MK2 heavyweight fighters. With Vietnam planning the acquisition of new fighter classes, either to expand its fleet or to replace ageing Soviet era Su-22 strike platforms, acquisition of the Su-30SM fighter is under serious consideration and these aircraft could also potentially be equipped with the new missiles. The Kh-35 has been in service since 2003, and is deployed by a number of Russian defence clients which in East Asia include Vietnam and Myanmar. The Vietnamese version of the missile will reportedly have a firing range of 300km, carry a 300kg warhead, and make use of both satellite navigation and an active-passive radar seeker ensuring maximum precision. The missile is though to have been developed based on extensive technology transfers from Russia under the agreement for licence production of the Kh-35.