Vietnam Defence Forum

[Viet]

Details emerge of Vietnam's C295 purchase
Jon Grevatt, Bangkok - IHS Jane's Defence Industry

General characteristics

71 men. small units, perhaps for carrying paratroopers or special Ops.

 

[BoQ77]

71 men. small units, perhaps for carrying paratroopers or special Ops.

short take off, landing run
Truong Sa Lon , runway 800m

--------

Sĩ quan quân đội Việt Nam chụp ảnh lưu niệm cùng phái đoàn Indonesia và máy bay vận tải CN-295.

Trong cuộc gặp và thảo luận với Bộ trưởng Quốc phòng Việt Nam vào hôm 27/5 tại Hà Nội, Đại tướng Phùng Quang Thanh cho biết rằng, Không quân Việt Nam cần một loại máy bay có thể triển khai lực lượng, vận tải, sức chở tối đa 10 tấn và có một cánh cửa phía sau để đáp ứng nhu cầu của đất nước.

---------------------

April 1, 2014
Vietnam will buy early warning aircraft C-295?



Translated from Vietnamese

Việt Nam sẽ mua máy bay cảnh báo sớm C-295? | Vietnam Defense

Defense industry company Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) Israel is in the negotiation stage 4 different types of customers interested in medium-range transport aircraft by Airbus Defence & Space C295 manufactured, but is installed additional monitoring systems and airborne early warning (AWACS) by Elta Systems company (under IAI) developed.

According to Flight Global magazine, C295 transport aircraft Airbus was previously developed an aerodynamic configuration can be installed rotating radar system for surveillance missions and early warning (AWACS) on no. In Meanwhile, Elta Systems (a member company of IAI) is also quite popular in the ability to develop and manufacture electronic intelligence sensors, communication devices, monitoring, command and radar. A source Israel said that the purpose of monitoring the aircraft version and Early Warning C-295 is to attract the attention of Air Force countries used transport aircraft designed in Europe.

IAI has today revealed a number of countries are using transport aircraft C-295 engine 2 shows the variations are interested in monitoring and early warning of this transport aircraft. C-295 AEW is equipped with two turboprop PW127G, maximum speed 576km / h, cruising speed 480km / h. The aircraft has a maximum operating range of 5.400km, enough to control the airspace over a large area, have the ability to perform tasks continuously extended to 9 hours, and can operate at high stand up to 7.930m.

Vietnam's air force is still largely based on the activities of the foundation fighter, flagship fighter as Su-27/30 bomb, Su-22 Russian / Soviet made and the support of a network of advanced radar system placed on the ground. However, in modern warfare, the need for an aircraft acts as a radar can perform the tasks of monitoring, warning distance is of paramount importance. So, most likely in the near future we will be more equipped aircraft have a similar role to enhance combat capability.

Islamic month end 5/2013, the Indonesian Air Force also has an air conditioning tactical transport S-295 (a variant of the C-295) make the journey overseas performances around the ASEAN 6 countries (including Vietnam) to promote the capabilities and performance of military transport aircraft the aircraft by manufacturer PT Dirgantara Indonesia (PTDI) and Airbus Military Company co-production. later flight demonstration in Vietnam, CN-295 aircraft by the Ministry of Defense appreciated. Shortly thereafter, the Indonesian press reported that Hanoi has expressed interest in buying the three planes of this type. Meanwhile, Russia's Independent newspaper said that, with no requirement to modernize military in the near future, Vietnam will buy at least two aircraft airborne early warning, in which CASA C-295 is one of the leading candidates. All facilities on show, there is high possibility that Vietnam will be one of the four countries participating in talks to buy AWACS aircraft C-295 Airbus and Israel to the future, significantly enhanced capacity warfare for the Air Force.

 

[Viet]

@BoQ77

ok, that makes sense to me now.
3 early warning aircraft, the first of this kind for the airforce.

 

[BoQ77]

@BoQ77

ok, that makes sense to me now.
3 early warning aircraft, the first of this kind for the airforce.

C-295 is really a multi-purpose aircraft with modular design ...
ASW, AEW, transport, ...
But at first, the transport function and add militant to Truong Sa Lon is great.

 

[Carlosa]

@BoQ77

ok, that makes sense to me now.
3 early warning aircraft, the first of this kind for the airforce.

Hmmmm I very much doubt it. IAI is developing that version together with Airbus and the plane will be sold as a AWACS plane from the factory itself. If the version bought by Vietnam were to be an AWACS, it would be sold as such from the start. It will not be sold as a transport plane and then to add the awacs equipment later. Also, all the equipment integration for the AWACS version including the radome antenna installation is done at the factory in Spain, it would not be in Vietnam or in Israel, so it can't be a case of the planes being bought as transports and then the AWACS equipment added later.

These 3 planes should be just the transport version as the news release indicates. The AWACS version is not finished yet, its under development, the demonstration plane that is shown in the picture only has the radome antenna installed, no other equipment related to the AWACS version is installed in it since the development is not finished yet, they just use that plane to show what the plane will look like with the radome antenna, that's all (the radome antenna is the round rotating antenna seen on top of the plane).

Also, since the planes will be delivered in 2015, they can only be transports, production units on the AWACS version can't be ready that fast.

The original press release does not mention anything about Israeli Elta systems adding equipment later, that sentence in red color between parenthesis is not part of the news release. This is the text of the news release:

"The three C295 transport aircraft that Vietnam has ordered from Airbus Defence and Space (DS) are scheduled to enter service with the Vietnamese air force from 2015,IHS Jane's understands.

The purchase contract - thought to be secured in 2013 at a cost of about USD100 million - also includes the supply of spares, maintenance, and training to the air force, which is expected to take delivery of the aircraft at intervals of about six months.

It is also understood that the aircraft are being sold to Vietnam in a basic transport configuration with no additional mission systems included. Airbus DS's production of Vietnam's first C295 aircraft, which is currently under way in Seville, Spain, was revealed by IHS Jane's in June, although contract details have not previously been disclosed."

Vietnam will most likely buy the AWACS version of the C-295 once its ready, but the development has to be finished first so that customers can inspect and test the plane, Vietnam will not buy it while development is still ongoing.

The C-295 as a transport for Vietnam will replace the older AN-26's.

short take off, landing run
Truong Sa Lon , runway 800m

Truong Sa Lon runway is 600 meters, not 800.

 

[Viet]

@Carlosa


hmmm, you say the AWACS version of the C-295 is not ready yet.
should that mean we buy 3 airbus planes just to strengthen our troop transport capacity, to add the new birds to the exsiting fleet of An 26?

well, it is not bad at all.

 

[BoQ77]

C-295 could be used for newly parachute troops force

Danh sách sân bay ở Việt Nam – Wikipedia tiếng Việt

Look at : sân bay quân sự

Sân bay Trường Sa – Wikipedia tiếng Việt
Bách khoa toàn thư mở Wikipedia
Sân Bay Trường Sa nằm ở đảo Trường Sa Lớn, thuộc huyện Trường Sa, tỉnh Khánh Hòa.

Đây là sân bay quân sự duy nhất của Quân đội Nhân dân Việt Nam trên Quần đảo Trường Sa,có 1 đường băng dài khoảng 800 mét. Đường băng và sân đỗ máy bay có 3 lớp kết cấu trên nền cát, đá san hô tự nhiên gồm: Lớp nền móng tạo phẳng và lu, lèn chặt; lớp móng gia cố xi măng và lớp bê tông xi măng cường độ cao dày 25 cm.Sân bay trên đảo Trường Sa Lớn có thể tiếp nhận các loại trực thăng và máy bay tuần tiễu M-28. Có thể nói, sân bay Trường Sa là một công trình đặc biệt quan trọng trong việc khẳng định và bảo vệ chủ quyền biển đảo thiêng liêng của Tổ quốc Việt Nam.

Uploaded on Apr 20, 2011

Với khoảng cách hơn 200 hải lý so với đất liền, với một sân bay nhỏ (chiều dài đường băng 800m) ở đảo Trường Sa (còn gọi là đảo Trường Sa Lớn), phương tiện vận tải duy nhất hiện nay là sử dụng "những con ngựa già"

 

[Carlosa]

@Carlosa


hmmm, you say the AWACS version of the C-295 is not ready yet.
should that mean we buy 3 airbus planes just to strengthen our troop transport capacity, to add the new birds to the exsiting fleet of An 26?

well, it is not bad at all.

Correct, just the transport planes for now which is already good enough, that plane is actually very good, VN will start with the transport version first, make sure that they are happy with the plane and then they can add the AWACS version later once its finished and they can check it out.

 

[Viet]

poliburo member Pham Quang Nghi is currently on a visit to America.

some western media speculate besides seeking a closer economic tie, he wants to find out under what conditions Washington will be ready to negotiate a mililary alliance with Vietnam.

 

[Carlosa]

Danh sách sân bay ở Việt Nam – Wikipedia tiếng Việt

Look at : sân bay quân sự


Uploaded on Apr 20, 2011

Với khoảng cách hơn 200 hải lý so với đất liền, với một sân bay nhỏ (chiều dài đường băng 800m) ở đảo Trường Sa (còn gọi là đảo Trường Sa Lớn), phương tiện vận tải duy nhất hiện nay là sử dụng "những con ngựa già"

The article is wrong, the island itself is 630 meters long and the airstrip is just a few meters smaller than the island. Actually Wikipedia in English has the island size as 630 meters which is correct, the vietnamese version is not. I know from a variety of sources that the airstrip is 600 meters long, I used to research about this island.

The information from wikipedia is not reliable, it depends on who is posting, which can be anybody.

 

[Viet]

Correct, just the transport planes for now which is already good enough, that plane is actually very good, VN will start with the transport version first, make sure that they are happy with the plane and then they can add the AWACS version later once its finished and they can check it out.

...and the planes will be built in Seville/Spain, your home country

 

[Carlosa]

...and the planes will be built in Seville/Spain, your home country

But of course!!! Only good things come out from Spain (well, not in football this year).

Actually that family of planes were originally made by the spanish company CASA (later integrated into Airbus), the C in C-295 stands for the company name CASA, the C-295 and C-235 are just stretched and enlarged versions of the CASA-212 Aviocar which has been around for many years and is still very successful and very reliable. Vietnam currently has 3 of the C-212 marine patrol version in the coast guard.

 

[Carlosa]

A treat for you guys, the Carlosa Special Report about the C-212 marine patrol bird of Vietnam, you are not going to find this article anywhere, I put it together myself from a variety of sources:

Vietnam Marine Police has launched a fleet of Casa-212-400 aircraft to monitor vessels in coastal areas, detect oil spills and coordinate rescue activities.

These CASA C212-400 are being used to perform coastal patrol duties. Previously, Vietnam has sent pilots to Seville, Spain to receive pilot training.

The Casa 212-400 aircraft is the latest version of the C212 model manufactured by Airbus. The plane accommodates a crew of three and can be used for long patrol journeys. The aircraft can transport 24 soldiers or a cabin load of 2.7 tons, in addition, it is also equipped with two hard points, can carry guided missiles and unguided rockets, for a total weapons payload of 500 kg.

A Casa 212-400 is 16.1 meters long, 6.5 meters tall, and has a wingspan of 20.2 meters. The plane can fly at a maximum speed of 370 kph, with a range of 1,800 km.

The plane is also equipped with a MSS-6000 airborne maritime surveillance system which is made in Sweden.

The core of the MSS-6000 is a mission management system that links all available information together and presents a situation overview to the operator for interpretation and further action. The mission management system is based on GIS (Geographical Information System) technology, and the available information is presented against a backdrop of a digital nautical chart.

These aircraft in the service to Vietnam will not only enhance the surveillance capabilities of the sea, it will have a certain airborne early warning capability.

The Casa-212 can operate during the day and at night and in all weather conditions. It can take off and land at makeshift airports with short, narrow runways.

Equipped with two propeller turbine engines, the aircraft can fly at very low altitude, making it ideal for patrolling and identifying vessels at sea, spotting oil spills, and con- ducting rescue missions.

MSS 6000 Maritime surveillance system to support oil spill, rescue operations in Vietnamese waters

The Vietnamese contract comes from the Vietnam Marine Police, which has ordered systems for installation on three new CASA C212-400 aircraft – a project that takes three years to complete. The contract has an extensive scope, including installation and testing of the systems in the aircraft, establishment of a ground station and mission command center, and operational and technical training of personnel.

SSC will supply a fully integrated MSS 6000 system, including SLAR (side-looking airborne radar), still and video cameras, airborne AIS (automatic identification system for ships), an IR/UV (infra-red/ultra-violet) line scanner, an FLIR (forward-looking infra-red) scanner, and communications via high-speed satellite data-link and HF (high frequency) radio.

The customer will use the equipment for patrolling Vietnamese waters, detecting and responding to oil spills and illegal fishing activities, protecting the economic zone, and participating in search-and-rescue operations.

The MSS 6000 provides an effective means to monitor activities in national waters and to detect unwanted or illegal events, such as oil pollution, whether accidental or deliberate, and unauthorized fishing. The technology can also be applied to monitoring movement of ice, likely to become increasingly important as offshore oil and gas operations spread to arctic regions.

Data from the different sensors is processed, integrated, and presented in one integrated view to the operator. All recordings are annotated with GPS data and digitally stored in an on-board geographical database. Data and digital images are presented integrated with an electronic nautical chart data base and also correlated with the mission report, all at the operator’s finger-tips. All information from the mission is saved and can be compiled in mission reports and sent via the satellite data-link to a command center and/or cooperating units.

Since the technology was first launched in the 1970s, its capabilities have continually expanded. “With the MSS 5000, which we launched in the 1990s, we were able to do things we could only dream of in the 1970s,” says Colliander, from the manufacturing company. “The MSS 6000 does things we didn’t even dream of.

“We can safely say that we give a better performance than military surveillance systems at a fraction of the cost. We’re now exploring what the advent of broadband communications enables us to do. We’ve put a lot of effort into developing software for the man/machine interface. We have kept the system user-friendly and intuitive: one operator can handle it all.”

One of the MSS 6000’s capabilities is to read a ship’s name at a distance of 10 nautical miles in the middle of the night. This makes it an important weapon in combating illegal fishing – cheating occurs frequently with the transponders on fishing vessels, so being able covertly to read ships’ names provides an important means of checking their true identity.

FEATURES

Search radar

A search radar can be added to the system for general surveillance. The MSS 6000 is designed to interface to a forward looking or 360 degrees search radar for importing target tracks into the tactical map database.

SLAR

The Side Looking Airborne Radar

The main sensor of the MSS is the Side-Looking Airborne Radar (SLAR): a mapping radar for surveillance of large sea surfaces.

The forward motion of the aircraft is utilized by the radar to scan the sea surface perpendicular to the flight track

Whereas a traditional radar typically obtains less than twenty echoes per radar scan from each target, the SLAR obtains up to a thousand. This gives a very high capacity for detecting small targets as well as for showing sea surface properties. Oil floating on the sea surface has a dampening effect on the sea clutter (capillary waves) resulting in less radar return to the aircraft from an oil slick than from the surrounding, undisturbed water surface, and this contrast is clearly visible in the SLAR image.

Objects with higher reflectivity to radar pulses than the sea surface will instead give a more intense radar return, and the resulting image will therefore show not only oil spills but also ships, boats and other small objects against a background picture of the sea surface.

Thus the SLAR is the ideal sensor for large area surveillance for both oils pollution and very small vessels, target types that are difficult at best, and often impossible, to detect with traditional radar technology.

The SLAR is a day and night sensor. It can be operated under all weather conditions.

MSS 6000 provides for GPS accuracy in positioning the SLAR image and will present the image either superimposed on a backdrop digital chart or display it as a traditional "scrolling waterfall".

IR/UV SCANNER

The Infrared/Ultraviolet (IR/UV) Line Scanner is used to obtain high resolution imagery of ship wakes, accident sites etc. It is ideal for mapping oil spills and other types of pollution, as well as other types of hydrological phenomena such as upwelling warmer/colder water .



The Infrared/Ultraviolet (IR/UV) Line Scanner is used to obtain high resolution imagery of accident sites etc. It is capable of observing minute temperature differences on the water surface and is ideal for mapping oil spills and other types of pollution, as well as other types of hydrological phenomena such as upwelling warmer/colder water .

The IR/UV scanner, operating in the 8.5-12.5µm region (IR) and in the 0.32-0.38 µm region (UV), provides high resolution imagery of oil spills and other features on the surface. IR data can be obtained both day and night providing information on the spreading of oil and also indicating the relative oil thickness within the oil slick. Usually 80% of the oil is concentrated within less than 20% of the visual oil slick. By using the IR information, the efficiency of clean-up operations can be greatly improved.

UV data is obtained during daylight conditions, and is primarily used to map the entire extent of an oil slick, irrespective of thickness. The UV data adds confidence to the IR registration by distinguishing between natural thermal phenomena, such as cold upwelling water, from suspected oil pollution. It also assists an on-scene commander in determining the location of the thicker parts an oil spill, thus adding to the efficiency of the clean-up operation.

The MSS 6000 will infterface to any IR/UV line scanner on the market.

MSS 6000 provides for GPS accuracy and the capability to either superimpose the IR and UV images on a backdrop digital chart or to display the images as a traditional "scrolling waterfall".

The information from the aircraft can be used as input to oil drift modelling, thus further enhancing the aircraft as an asset in your oil spill contingency planning.

SSC CAMERA AND VIDEO CAMERA

The MSS 6000 still and video cameras provide digital imagery and video documentation. Each frame is annotated with relevant mission information for future, tamper-free reference. The built-in DGPS system provides accurate and consistent annotation of all MSS 6000 observations.

The MSS 6000 assists the operator in keeping track of all exposures made with the still camera and video sequence registered with the video camera by logging the time and position of each exposure and displaying this information in a selectable digital map overlay. Imagery and other information are linked to the geographical position and to the operator's comment, thus creating a comprehensive folder of data to document an observed activity on the sea surface.

Video recordings can be made from the FLIR(Forward Looking Infrared) as well as from the handheld video camera to allow close-up documentation of activities on the sea surface. The video is stored digitally and can be reviewed either in the aircraft or on the ground. Video sequences or selected frames can also be transmitted over the data link.

AIS - AUTOMATIC IDENTIFICATION SYSTEM

A (normally silent) airborne AIS transponder is integrated with the MSS 6000 system.

The AIS receives identity information from all transponder equipped ships with VHF distance in the patrol area. Live AIS information is displayed on the MSS 6000 map display and logged in the built-in target database. The possibility for the operator to immediatly compare AIS information with target information acquired from other sensors, will greatly facilitate the control of all sea surface activities within the patrol area.

AIS contacts plotted on a patrol of the St. Lawrence inlet (Courtesy Transport Canada)

FLIR /EO-SENSOR

Forward Looking Infrared-/Electro-Optical Sensor

A FLIR is an indispensable supplementary sensor for most mission profiles. It will add day and night identification and documentation capability to complement the information gathered from other on-board or external sources.

The FLIR is integrated into the surveillance system. Imagery from the FLIR is annotated and stored together with the all other mission data. The FLIR can also be slaved to any target position or geographical reference in the MSS 6000 database as selected by the operator, thus facilitating the sorting and identification of targets detected by other means.
Most FLIRs in the market can be integrated to the MSS 6000 system. The pictures show the Wescam MX-16 gyro estabilised sensor,the FLIR systems, the EuroFLIR 350 and the Star Q sensor.

Image from the EO/IR sensor

MWR - THE MICROWAVE RADIOMETER

If oil pollution control is one of your main missions, the Microwave Radiometer may provide valuable information to assist in the combating effort.

The SLAR will map the area of the oil slick. Once the slick is detected, the extension and distribution of the oil within the slick is assessed with the IR/UV scanner.Examples of Infrared and Microwave Radiometer registrations
of an oil spill.

LFS - LASER FLOUROSENSOR

If pollution control is one of your main missions, the Laser Fluorosensor System may provide valuable information to assist in the combating effort.

The SLAR will detect and map the extent of an oil spill on the sea surface. Once the slick is detected, the extension and distribution of the oil within the slick is assessed with the IR/UV scanner. The Microwave Radiometer will measure the thickness and thusgive a better estimate of the volume of the spill.The Laser Fluorosensor can be said to take a "finger print" of some of the properties of the surface beneath the aircraft

A deeper analysis of the oil pollution is achieved from the Laser Fluorosensor. Its sensitivity to very thin oil films on the water surface, makes this sensor an interesting addition to the sensor package. Apart from the pollution related applications this instrument can also be used for hydrographical measurements and for algae monitoring.

The LFS-light can assist the operator in distinguishing between oil and other substances and to analyze the optical signature of different oil types which has been assembled from a catalogue of the optical properties of different oils from laboratory investigations.

On request a laser fluorosensor can be integrated into the MSS 6000 system.

ATCOM - SATELLITE COMMUNICATION

For real-time in-flight data communication a SATCOM system is integrated with the MSS. With a high-speed SATCOM link the mission report with images and tactical map snapshots captured during the mission can be delivered while in the air or by e-mail or mobile phone after landing. With a low-speed SATCOM link only short messages with information of position and properties of observed activities on the sea surface will be delivered while in the air and mission report and pictures will follow by e-mail or mobile phone data transferred after landing. The recorded mission can also be replayed after landing in the aircraft or on a ground station.

High-speed satellite communications is integrated in the MSS 6000 system for real-time information to other units in the surveillance operation.

VMS - VESSEL MONITORING SYSTEM

The integrated Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) functionality provides a possibility to upload information on fishing vessels from the national fisheries authority to be accessed together with other mission data.

DF - DIRECTION FINDER

The Direction Finder (DF) functionality provides direction information on radio transmitters, including the 406 MHz emergency frequency and decoding of COSPAS/SARSAT data.

MSS 6000 OPERATOR WORK STATION

The MSS 6000 operator workstation is innovatibly and ergonomically designed; from his or her seat, the operator has access to all system functionality.

The MSS design allows for more than one operator workstation on board the aircraft, each with configurable functionality. Thus the work distribution between the operators may be configured to maximize mission effectiveness, according to the requirements of the customer organization.

MISSION COMMAND CENTRE - MCC

With the Mission Command Centre SSC has developed a new addition to its maritime surveillance concept.

he MCC in command mode showing the tactical map.

The first complete MCC will be delivered together with three MSS 6000 equipped aircraft to the Vietnam Marine Police.

The MCC provides an exquisite tool for the Mission Command to plan, follow, analyze and archive the missions of all flying units.

In the MCC the mission is prepared before flight and followed and managed from the ground in real time during the flight.

The MCC displays the flight track of all flying units on the tactical map. It receives data from the aircraft including position, updates, incident reports, AIS and target information, images and streaming video. The incoming data is shown on a digital map in the MCC to give an overview of the situation. From the MCC further instructions can be issued to the aircraft in real time on how to proceed with the mission.

All mission information is stored in a database from where it can be analyzed processed. Using the filter functions and background databases, important information about ship movements and the identity and activity of observed vessels can be easily visualized on the screen.

 

[Viet]

But of course!!! Only good things come out from Spain (well, not in football this year).

Actually that family of planes were originally made by the spanish company CASA (later integrated into Airbus), the C in C-295 stands for the company name CASA, the C-295 and C-235 are just stretched and enlarged versions of the CASA-212 Aviocar which has been around for many years and is still very successful and very reliable. Vietnam currently has 3 of the C-212 marine patrol version in the coast guard.

yeah...your football team had not performed good at this time, while the Germans played great and deserved to have won the championship. but hey, you won the title last time, didn´t you?

I think the future looks great as we continue to do more and more defence business with Spain and European partners. I wonder when will you send the Armada Española for a port visit to Vietnam?

 

[Carlosa]

yeah...your football team had not performed good at this time, while the Germans played great and deserved to have won the championship. but hey, you won the title last time, didn´t you?

I think the future looks great as we continue to do more and more defence business with Spain and European partners. I wonder when will you send the Armada Española for a port visit to Vietnam?

Yes, Spain won 4 years ago, but I think they are going to need to put together a new team from scratch, the current team is too old. Germany deserved to win and I think they'll stay strong for a number of years.

Yes, VN needs to grow out of that Russian only weapons situation, Russia is very good for some things like air defense systems, etc, but they are so so in many other things. Its good that VN is buying the Sigma frigates, those are better than the Gepards.

Actually, VN is too shy, They really need to get more serious about developing weapon systems, they can do more and better than what they are doing at present. They need to take control of ship development, not just buy as is like now, VN should do what Myanmar is doing, they are putting together 3500 ton heavy frigates with a hell of a powerful weapon system mixing equipment from a variety of sources (sonars and guns from India, missiles and radars from russia and china, etc. I could not believe that poor Mianmar is doing that; there is no reason why VN can't do it.

It would be great if the Armada Espanola were to come to Vietnam, I'll pass the request, Spain has a pretty good navy, they made some nice destroyers with the Aegis system that are actually the cheapest Aegis ships anywhere by far, they would be nice for VN to have.