India To Train Vietnam AF's Sukhoi-30 Pilots: Agreement Signed

India has signed an agreement with Vietnam to train the Vietnamese Air Force Su-30-MK2 fighter aircraft pilots.

The two sides agreed to train the pilots. This is the second major training programme after Vietnamese Navy was trained by Indian Navy in operating Russian-origin kilo-class submarines, Tribune India reported Monday.

The agreement was signed at a meeting between Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar and his Vietnamese counterpart Gen Ngo Xuan Lich on Monday in New Delhi.

India in the past has trained Malaysian Air Force pilots on the Russian Su-30 fighter aircraft. The two nations now plan to set up a Su-30 forum, a joint platform to exchange information on training, maintenance and technical support of the fleet.

India and Malaysia also plan to exchange notes on exploiting common military platforms and upgrading joint training exercises as part of a new thrust in defence relations agreed upon during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Kuala Lumpur, Economic Times reported last month.