RAE VF-23 Dragon

**Role**
Air superiority fighter

**National origin**
Vietnam

**Manufacturer**
RAE, Northrop Grumman

**First flight**
1996

**Introduction**
2007

**Status**
In service

**Primary user**
Republic of Vietnam Military Forces

**Produced**
2000-present

**Number built**
Classified

**Unit cost**
₫120 million (initial flyaway cost)

**Developed from**
YFX-23

**Developed into**
VF-23II, VF-23IIA

The **RAE VF-23 Dragon** is Vietnam's primary fifth-generation fighter. The RAE VF-23 Dragon is a single-seat, twin-engine, all-weather stealth tactical fighter aircraft developed for the Republic of Vietnam Military Forces. As the result of the RVNAF's Fifth Gen Tactical Fighter (5GTF) program, the aircraft was designed as an air superiority fighter, but also has ground attack, electronic warfare, and signals intelligence capabilities. The prime contractor, RAE, built most of the VF-23's airframe and weapons systems and conducted final assembly, while American defence contractor Northrop Grumman provided the wings, aft fuselage, avionics integration, and training systems.

## History

In 1992, the Ministry of Defence procured plans of the Northrop Grumman VF-23 demonstrator aircraft after the United States passed on it in favour of the eventual F-22 Raptor. Initially, the MoD planned on just 150 5GTFs for the air force, but after overwhelming praise of the plane's speed, avionics, dog-fighting ability, and stealth by RVNAF pilots the MoD decided to completely overhaul the Vietnamese fleet with plans for a carrier-based version for the Navy. As a result the initial 150 order became 720 with the plan to create or reorganise 60 air squadrons in the Air Force, Navy, and Marines.

The aircraft first flew in 1996 and was variously designated **VF-23** and **VF/A-22** before it formally entered service in December 2007 as the **VF-23A**.

While it had a protracted development and faced delays, the VF-23 has become a critical component of the RVNAF’s tactical air power. The fighter's combination of stealth, aerodynamic performance, and mission systems enable unprecedented air combat capabilities and is on par with or exceeds its generational counterpart, the USAF's F-22 Raptor. The VF-23 is expected to serve into the 2030s and eventually be succeeded by the RVNAF's Future Air Superiority Jet (FAST) manned fighter component.

## Cost and procurement

The initial flyaway cost of the VF-23 was ₫120 million in 2007. By comparison by the time 360th unit entered service the flyaway cost was ₫111 million still adjusting for inflation. The reason for this is in 2012 RAE partnered with Vietnamese-based Essensecurity Dynamics to use the Essensecurity PL725 engine rather than the US' Pratt & Whitney engines initially fitted, this lowered shipping costs and increased production by six units, from 24 to 30. The MoD will invest ₫86.4 billion into the VF-23 by project production end which is slated for 2030.

## General characteristics

* **Crew:** 1
* **Length:** 67 ft 5 in (20.55 m)
* **Wingspan:** 43 ft 7 in (13.28 m)
* **Height:** 13 ft 11 in (4.24 m)
* **Wing area:** 900 sq ft (84 m2)
* **Empty weight:** 29,000 lb (13,154 kg)
* **Gross weight:** 51,320 lb (23,278 kg)
* **Max takeoff weight:** 62,000 lb (28,123 kg)
* **Powerplant:** 2 × Pratt & Whitney YF119 *or* Essensecurity PL725 afterburning turbofan engines, 35,000 lbf (160 kN) with afterburner

### Performance

* **Maximum speed:** Mach 2.2 (1,450 mph, 2,335 km/h) at high altitude
* **Supercruise**: Mach 1.6+ at altitude
* **Range:** 2,424 nmi (2,789 mi, 4,489 km)
* **Combat range:** 651–695 nmi (749–800 mi, 1,206–1,287 km)
* **Service ceiling:** 65,000 ft (20,000 m)
* **Wing loading:** 57 lb/sq ft (280 kg/m2)
* **Thrust/weight:** 1.36

## Armament

* 1 × 20 mm (0.79 in) M61 Vulcan cannon
* 4 × AIM-120 AMRAAM or AIM-7 Sparrow medium-range air-to-air missiles
* 2 × AIM-9 Sidewinder short-range air-to-air missiles