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Vietnam has announced an agreement with an Israeli defense company to acquire two advanced spy satellites.
Some shit you should know before you read: Israel’s defense industry is one of the most advanced and globally influential, known for its cutting-edge technology in missile defense systems, drones, radar, and cybersecurity. Israeli defense firms have supplied military equipment to countries such as India, Azerbaijan, Italy, Morocco, and the United States. Notable exports include the Iron Dome missile defense system, Spike anti-tank guided missiles, Heron surveillance drones, and advanced radar systems used for air defense and early warning systems.
What’s going on now: Vietnam has confirmed that it purchased two advanced spy satellites from Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) in a $680 million deal, marking a significant step in its efforts to enhance surveillance and intelligence capabilities. The agreement includes one optical imagery satellite and one synthetic-aperture radar (SAR) satellite, allowing Vietnam to conduct high-resolution reconnaissance even in poor weather or nighttime conditions. These satellites will provide critical intelligence on Chinese military activities in the South China Sea, a region where China continues to ramp up its military presence by creating artificial islands and military outposts.
The deal follows years of negotiations, with IAI competing against France, Lockheed Martin, and even Russia, which attempted to offer a lower-cost alternative.
This satellite purchase is part of Vietnam’s broader $2 billion military partnership with Israel, which has grown significantly in recent years. Previously, Vietnam acquired Rafael’s Spider air defense systems ($600 million), IAI’s Heron surveillance drones ($140 million), and radar systems from Elta Systems ($150 million). Additionally, Vietnam has procured Tavor assault rifles, tank upgrade technology, and long-range EXTRA rockets from Israeli firms.
