Vietnam Develops Its Own Naval Drone

The Vietnam Institute of Naval Ship Design has developed and tested the first domestic naval kamikaze drone with machine vision.

The video of the drone’s tests was published by the Vietnamese state-run channel VTV1.

No details about the new development are given, but judging by the video, the drone is equipped with a satellite dish for long-range control, probably Starlink.

In addition, it can be seen that the drone’s optical station is equipped with a target acquisition system, probably for precise guidance in case of signal loss.

It is stated that the drone is manufactured by an enterprise run by the General Department of Defense Industry and “meets the standards of modern military products.”

The enterprises of this department produce new Vietnamese drones, including the BXL.01 lance-shaped UAV and the QXL.01 reconnaissance quadcopters, designed and manufactured at the state-owned Z131 factory.

Interest in maritime drones, particularly attack drones, remains high amid tense relations between China and its neighbors in the South China Sea, mainly Vietnam and the Philippines.

The conflict between the two countries continues over China’s territorial claims and maritime boundary disputes, which have repeatedly led to clashes between their warships and coast guard forces.

In early September, there were reports of a possible defense agreement between Ukraine and the Philippines, which would include joint production of maritime drones.

A high-level Ukrainian delegation headed by representatives of the Ministry of Defense is expected to arrive in Manila to meet with their Philippine counterparts.

According to Ukraine’s Ambassador to the Philippines Yulia Fediv, the draft agreement has already been submitted to the Philippine Department of National Defense, and Kyiv is currently awaiting an official response. The parties reportedly plan to sign the document by October.

Meanwhile, Ukraine’s first non-resident defense attaché to the Philippines, Colonel Andriy Bilensky, paid a series of visits to military units in Manila last week, including the headquarters of the Philippine Air Force, Army, and Navy.