Su-30MK2 fighter jets, accompanied by several Mi-series helicopters, soared over Gia Lam Airport in Long Bien District, Hanoi on Monday as the capital city prepares for the 2024 Vietnam International Defense Expo.

Leading the formation was a squadron of three jets, followed by a second squadron of four.

The display highlighted seven Su-30MK2 fighter jets and seven Mi-series helicopters.

The Su-30MK2 jets departed from Kep Airport in Bac Giang Province, roughly 60 kilometers northeast of Hanoi.

The Mi-series helicopters, which took off from Hoa Lac Airport, about 24 kilometers west of Hanoi, also flew in groups of three and four.

These training flights were conducted by the Air Defense-Air Force Service’s 927th Fighter Regiment and 916th Helicopter Regiment to ensure flawless coordination during the expo's opening ceremony.

The biennial exposition, organized by the Ministry of National Defense, is set to gather leading international manufacturers, defense and security solution providers, and military representatives.

This year's edition coincides with the 80th anniversary of the Vietnam People’s Army and the 35th anniversary of the Whole-People Defense Festive Day.

The expo is slated to take place at Gia Lam Airport from December 19 to 22, with its opening ceremony featuring an aerial salute by the Vietnam People's Air Force, martial arts, and technical demonstrations by 2,200 special operations troops.

There will also be performances by 80 military service dogs under the Border Guard Command.

A highlight of this year’s expo will be a dedicated display area showcasing advancements by the Cyber Command.

This event is open to the public free of charge from 1:30 pm on December 21-22.

Designed to strengthen international cooperation in the defense industry, the expo is meant to diversify channels for procurement, technology transfer, logistics, and technical equipment to meet the Vietnamese armed force's needs.

It is also intended to provide a platform to showcase Vietnam’s defense technology, weapons, and industrial capabilities to international partners and the public, while exploring export opportunities for Vietnamese defense products.

According to Major General Le Quang Tuyen, deputy chief of the General Department of Defense Industry, the exhibition will cover over 100,000 square meters, with 15,000 square meters of indoor displays and 20,000 square meters of outdoor exhibits.

Nearly 200 units and representatives from 27 countries have registered to participate, according to organizers.

The expo has doubled in scale compared to its inaugural iteration in 2022.

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