At the aircraft handover ceremony. Photo by USAF
The delivery of the first T-6C Trainer Aircraft – five of 12 – is a significant milestone in the bilateral defense relationship between the two countries.
The handover ceremony was held on November 20 with the attendance of US Ambassador to Vietnam Marc Knapper, US Pacific Air Forces Commander General Kevin B. Schneider, and Vietnamese Air Defense Air Force (ADAF) Commander Lieutenant General Nguyen Van Hien .
“This delivery represents an important step forward in our growing partnership with Vietnam,” said US Ambassador Marc Knapper. “The T-6C Trainer Aircraft will provide valuable support to Vietnam’s pilot training programme, reflecting our shared vision for a strong, prosperous, independent, and resilient Vietnam that contributes to regional stability and security."
In 2021, the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defense and the US Air Forces committed to the T-6C Trainer Aircraft to operationalise and improve the ADAF’s pilot training programme.
The delivery of these innovative and technologically advanced aircraft underscores the increasing cooperation between the US Department of Defense and Vietnam’s Ministry of National Defense and reinforces the commitment to joint training and capacity building. This collaboration exemplifies the spirit of the US-Vietnam Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, which fosters mutual growth and shared objectives.
Speaking at the event, ADAF Commander Lieutenant General Nguyen Van Hien said, "This aircraft is useful materiel which supports Vietnamese military pilots in complementing, enhancing the capability of training, interoperability, meeting the requirements of training military pilots, mission readiness, homeland protection. In the coming time, the Vietnam side commits to collaborate with the US side in exploiting and utilizing T-6C aircraft in the most effective manner, to serve as a basis for the training and assigning tasks in Vietnam Air Defense Air Force".