Vietnam, United States Hold Airpower Talks

Senior officials from the Vietnamese People's Air Force and U.S. Air Force met in Vietnam July 21-24 to share information and set the stage for future partnering activities.

 

The series of meetings, held under the Pacific Air Forces' Airman-to-Airman Talks program, was organized with the Vietnam government by officials at 13th Air Force here. 

 

Lt. Gen. Chip Utterback, 13th Air Force commander, is leading the U.S. delegation.

"Our interest in these talks is to build relationships that will help us down the road," General Utterback said. "When we have these face-to-face meetings with other airmen in the region, and we speak the language of airpower, we're able to find common ground and opportunities to work together later."

 

Representatives from 13th Air Force gave members of Vietnam's Air Defense Air Force Command in Hanoi a general briefing on the U.S. Air Force and a presentation on U.S. Air Force pilot training programs, both on July 22. 

 

Vietnamese air force officials will take the visiting Americans to a pilot training academy in Nha Trang, where they will receive a tour and take part in a question and answer session with students. The U.S. Air Force participants will also visit the Vietnamese People's Air Force Division 370 in Ho Chi Minh City.