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Defense contractors had made multiple visits to Vietnam in recent months although no deals were imminent, said the sources, who declined to be identified because of the sensitivity of the matter. Some of the sources characterized the talks as ongoing.
One Western defense contractor said Hanoi wanted to modernize its air force by replacing more than 100 aging Russian MiG-21 fighters while reducing its reliance on Moscow for weapons for its roughly 480,000-strong military.
Vietnam has ordered about a dozen more Russian Sukhoi Su-30 front-line fighters to supplement a fleet of older Su-27s and Su-30s.
“We had indications they want to reduce their dependence on Russia. Their growing friendship with America and Europe will help them to do that,” said the defense contractor.
US Defense Secretary Ash Carter, during a visit to Vietnam on Sunday, pledged $18 million to help Hanoi buy US patrol boats. But any deal with Lockheed or Boeing would likely be the most significant involving a US firm since Washington started easing a long-time embargo on the sale of lethal weapons to Vietnam in October.