Some of the largest increases in military expenditure seen in Southeast Asia since the mid-2000s have led to a fundamental shift in the military power of the People’s Army of Vietnam (PAVN). Dr Collin Koh, a research fellow at RSIS, said that the Vietnam’s current priorities would include efforts to consolidate its newfound capabilities following the completion of the Kilo-class submarine procurement programme, which is by far its largest and most complex undertaking.