Vietnam seeks India-Israel Barak-8 air defense system amid Chinese belligerence

Vietnam is beefing up defenses amid China's irrational moves in the Indo-Pacific. Vietnam is eyeing the impressive Barak-8 air defense system in a $500 million deal. Barak-8 been joint developed by India's DRDO & Israel Ministry of Defense (IMOD). in 2017, India & Israel signed a $1.6BN contract for supply of the air defense system. Vietnamese sources say the nation is prioritising Barak-8 over Rafael's Spyder. Defence outposts on artificial islands; China claims almost all of South China Sea.