General David L. Goldfein, chief of Staff of the US Air Force, met Lieutenant General Le Huy Vinh, commander of Vietnam’s Air Defense and Air Force, in Hanoi on August 19, marking the first visit paid by a US Air Force chief of staff to Vietnam since the end of the Vietnam War in 1975. 
Lieutenant General Le Huy Vinh, commander of Vietnam’s Air Defense and Air Force and General David L. Goldfein, chief of Staff of the US Air Force in Hanoi on Aug 19. Photo: Tien Phong
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“We will make mechanism for cooperation in three years, five years or more under the permission of the two ministries of defense, opening an era of deepened collaboration,” General Vinh said at the meeting.
Over the past years, the two sides have joined hands in different fields, mostly in training programs in which the US Air Force has trained military pilots for Vietnam, invited Vietnam to attend a series of meetings and conferences to boost trust and mutual understanding.
In turn, General David Goldfein said the visit to Vietnam, together with Pacific Air Forces Commander (PACAF) General Charles Q. Brown, Jr., aims to reinforce the defense ties and the air forces.
“We’re here with you to find a joint mission which aims to boost the two countries’ cooperation,” said General David Goldfein.
The first visit paid by Chief of Staff of the US Air Force to Vietnam in the past 45 years. Photo: Tien Phong
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General Goldfein proposed cooperation plans at present and in the future, especially in information sharing.
Lieutenant General Vinh, meanwhile, said Vietnam’s Air Defense and Air Force welcomes joint activities between officers and the visit of US officers to Vietnam as part of efforts to boost trust and mutual understanding.
Senior Lieutenant Dang Duc Toai, first Vietnamese graduated from a US Air Force-funded program. Photo: US Air Force
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On May 31, the US Department of Defense announced that it would provide large support for Insitu for the provision of 34 ScanEagle unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) for 4 ASEAN countries, including six aircraft worth US$9.77 million for Vietnam.
In addition, this order provides for spare payloads, spare and repair parts, support equipment, tools, training, technical services, and field service representatives. Delivery for the ordering agreements is expected to be completed in March 2022.
Vietnam is one of the US's strong defense partners in the region. The US looks for next steps with Vietnam to provide the latter with the best armed equipment in the world, US Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security Affairs Andrea L. Thompson said in a teleconference with reporters on June 3 following the Singapore-based 18th Shangri-La Dialogue.
The military contract could be one of Vietnam’s most notable US military acquisitions since Washington lifted lethal arms sales ban on the Southeast Asian country in 2016 during President Obama's visit, according to Jane’s Defense Weekly.
