U. S. and Vietnam Talk Military Gear

A high-ranking U. S. defense official is visiting Vietnam to chat about possible weapons deals. This comes after years of talks about selling Vietnam some serious military hardware, like big transport planes and helicopters. The visit is happening in Hanoi, Vietnam's capital. The U. S. official is expected to meet with some of Vietnam's top leaders, including the country's president and defense minister. The main topic? Weapons. Specifically, the U. S. might sell Vietnam some Lockheed Martin C-130 Hercules transport planes. These are huge planes used for moving troops and supplies. But that's not all. There's also talk about helicopters. Vietnam might be interested in Lockheed Martin S-92s and Boeing Chinooks. These are heavy-duty helicopters used for all sorts of missions, from transporting troops to disaster relief. Now, Vietnam has been using mostly Russian weapons for a long time. But they've been looking to mix things up and get some variety in their arsenal. The U. S. lifted an arms embargo on Vietnam back in 2016, and talks have been heating up since then. But so far, no official deals have been announced. Last year, there were reports about Vietnam possibly buying C-130 planes. And in July, there was talk about a preliminary deal for two S-92 helicopters. There's also been discussion about Vietnam's police buying a couple of Chinook helicopters. Interestingly, Vietnam is building a new airport near Hanoi. A newspaper controlled by the police said this airport could handle Chinook CH-47D helicopters and other models. The Chinook is the only aircraft mentioned that Vietnam doesn't currently use. But will any deals be made during this visit? It's unclear. The sources who spoke about these talks didn't want to be named because the information isn't public yet. And when asked for comment, Boeing, the Vietnamese government, and Lockheed Martin didn't respond. So, what's the big picture here? Vietnam is looking to modernize its military and diversify its weapons sources. The U. S. is eager to sell. But will they make a deal? That's the big question.