For the first time, Vietnam sent air force officers to participate in bilateral exercises with India.

For the first time, Vietnam sent air force officers to participate in bilateral exercises with India on United Nations peacekeeping .

Lieutenant Colonel Le Thanh Duan and Major Nguyen Van Thieu share flying experiences with Indian Air Force and Army officers

According to the Vietnam Peacekeeping Department, this year, in addition to the forces of the Vietnam Peacekeeping Department, the Engineering Corps, and the Military Medical Academy, this is the first time the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defense has sent two air force officers from the Air Defense - Air Force Service to participate.

They are Lieutenant Colonel Le Thanh Duan of the General Staff, Air Defense - Air Force and Major Nguyen Van Thieu, pilot of Regiment 916, Division 371, a pilot with many flight hours and experience in search and rescue operations.

In the past few days in India, in addition to the training content focused on the delegation participating in the VINBAX 2024 exercise, the two air force officers participated in activities such as: Exchanging and sharing experiences on air search and rescue, the role of the air force in responding to natural disasters, humanitarian assistance and search and rescue according to the 4-on-the-spot motto (on-the-spot command, on-the-spot forces, on-the-spot logistics, on-the-spot means).

Chinook CH-47 (right) and HAL Dhruv (left) helicopters of the Indian Air Force and Army participate in the VINBAX 2024 exercise

Two Vietnamese air force officers also visited the makeshift landing site of transport helicopters in United Nations peacekeeping operations.

Observing cargo transportation activities using external cranes of transport helicopters such as Mi-17, Chinook CH-47 of the Indian Air Force and Army in performing tasks of supporting the engineering force in transporting equipment of United Nations peacekeeping missions.

In addition, the two officers also participated in observing the transportation of goods and victims in United Nations humanitarian assistance operations by air.

According to the Department of Peacekeeping, the Vietnamese delegation participating in the VINBAX Exercise has 47 members and 2 observers. This is the largest number of troops since the two countries began organizing bilateral exercises.

The Vietnam - India bilateral exercise VINBAX 2024 took place from November 3 to 24 at the 67th Engineer Regiment, 474th Engineer Brigade, Western Military Region, stationed in Ambala and the 474th Brigade in Chandimandir, Haryana, India.

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/lan-dau-tien-viet-nam-cu-si-quan-khong-quan-tham-gia-dien-tap-song-phuong-voi-an-do-20241115123103605.htm