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Vietnam Introduces Electric-Powered VU-C2 Loitering Munition at Defence Expo 2024.
At the Vietnam Defence Expo 2024, the Vietnamese Armed Forces have introduced their latest innovation in modern warfare: the Tactical Loitering Munition VU-C2. It is designed to neutralize ground targets such as infantry and light utility vehicles with precision and stealth, showcasing Vietnam’s growing capabilities in advanced military technology.
The Tactical Loitering Munition VU-C2 at Vietnam Defence Expo 2024. (Picture source: Army Recognition)
The VU-C2 boasts a host of features tailored for battlefield efficiency. Equipped with an electric engine, the loitering munition achieves low visual and acoustic signatures, making it ideal for covert operations. Special forces units can deploy the VU-C2 within minutes, using either a canister or a pneumatic launcher, enabling rapid responses to emerging threats.
With a wingspan of 1.5 meters and a length of 1.1 meters, the VU-C2 is lightweight, with a maximum take-off weight (MTOW) of just 8 kilograms. Despite its compact design, it delivers formidable performance, reaching speeds of up to 120 km/h and operating for up to 40 minutes. The UAV is equipped with an optoelectronic seeker, ensuring pinpoint accuracy in identifying and engaging high-value targets. Its AI-based detection algorithm further enhances its precision.
Loitering munitions, often referred to as "kamikaze drones," are increasingly valuable tools in modern warfare due to their dual-purpose capabilities. They combine real-time surveillance with precision-strike functionality, enabling forces to neutralize critical targets with minimal collateral damage and without risking personnel. Their operational flexibility, affordability, and effectiveness make them particularly attractive for nations seeking to enhance their military capabilities.
For the Vietnamese Army, loitering munitions could play a pivotal role in addressing potential security challenges. They would provide enhanced situational awareness, allowing military planners to monitor adversaries and identify emerging threats. With the ability to loiter over a target area, these drones could conduct thorough reconnaissance before engaging, ensuring precise and timely strikes.
Vietnam's strategic focus on defending its territorial integrity, particularly in contested regions, would benefit from the integration of loitering munitions. These systems can operate effectively in diverse environments, from dense jungles to coastal regions, making them versatile assets for both land and maritime operations.
The use of loitering munitions would also reinforce Vietnam’s asymmetric warfare capabilities, enabling it to counteract more technologically advanced adversaries.