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India to Give Vietnam Warship as the Two Countries Tighten Defense Ties
NEW DELHI -- India has said it will give a naval warship to Vietnam in the latest signal of tightening defense ties between the two countries, which share concerns about China's assertiveness.
The announcement that New Delhi will deliver the Indian Missile Corvette INS Kirpan to the Vietnamese navy was made following a meeting between Indian Defense minister Rajnath Singh and his Vietnamese counterpart, General Phan Van Gang, in New Delhi on Monday.
Originally Khukri-class corvette equipped with 4×P-15 Termit (NATO: SS-N-2D Mod 1 Styx) missile launchers, SA-N-5 Grail launcher for air defence missiles, 1 AK-176 76 mm 60-cal main gun. and 2× AK-630 30 mm gun (photo : Indian Navy)
"A missile corvette is a small warship used mainly for the purpose of coastal defense," according to Rahul Bedi, an independent defense analyst.
In a statement, the Indian government said that giving the warship to Hanoi would be "a milestone in enhancing the capabilities of Vietnam People's Navy."
The focus of the Vietnamese defense minister's visit was on building military ties with New Delhi. He also discussed ways to enhance defense industrial capabilities by cooperation in defense research and joint production, according to the statement.
Although the two countries have had a strategic partnership since 2016, it has gained momentum since last year when they signed a landmark military logistics pact that would enable their militaries to use each other's bases for repair and replenishment of supplies and make it easier to arrange visits of warships, military aircraft and personnel to each other's shores. India also gave 12 high-speed guard boats to Vietnam last June under a $100 million line of credit extended by India.
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