Ho Chi Minh City. Saigon Telecommunication & Technologies Corporation, or SAIGONTEL, and US company Pickaxe Technologies have signed a memorandum of understanding on manufacturing, testing, evaluation and training for unmanned and autonomous systems for civilian and commercial applications in Vietnam.
The signing took place on October 26 during Open Innovation Day 2026, themed “Power the Next-Gen Industrial City”. The event opened a series of activities under the Autumn Economic Forum 2026 in Ho Chi Minh City.
Under the agreement, the two sides aim to develop the technological capabilities and infrastructure needed to advance unmanned systems in Vietnam, while helping domestic businesses participate more deeply in global supply chains for emerging technologies.
The partnership also seeks to establish a site in Southeast Asia where international technology companies can validate their unmanned and autonomous systems. The sides plan to develop reliable and secure supply networks and prepare the basis for future joint research and development.
The memorandum covers four areas: industrial manufacturing capacity; testing, evaluation and certification; workforce training; and technology research and development.
SAIGONTEL will be the lead partner in Vietnam. It will identify potential sites and infrastructure for the project, including its industrial parks and telecommunications infrastructure. It will also coordinate with authorities, domestic businesses and research institutions, and lead procedures for obtaining the required licences and approvals in line with regulations.
Pickaxe Technologies will develop technical plans and operating models, connect technology partners and suppliers, and design testing, training and capacity-building programmes. The company also plans to seek funding from US and international investors.
All cooperation activities will be subject to approval by the competent authorities and must comply with Vietnamese and US laws, including export-control regulations.
The agreement comes as Vietnam identifies science, technology and innovation as drivers of economic growth. Politburo Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW, issued on December 22, 2024, on breakthroughs in science and technology, innovation and national digital transformation, sets a strategic direction for strengthening the country's technological capabilities and ability to master strategic technologies.
Under Prime Minister's Decision No. 21/2026/QD-TTg dated April 30, 2026, which took effect on July 1, unmanned aircraft and vehicles are included in the list of strategic technology products alongside semiconductor chips and artificial intelligence.
At the Vietnam Low-Altitude Economy Forum 2025, experts estimated that the country's low-altitude economy could have a potential value of around 10 billion USD. The Low-Altitude Economy Alliance also expects the sector to generate about 1 million high-quality jobs over the next 10 to 15 years.
Developing a domestic ecosystem for manufacturing, testing and training in this field requires more than the use of unmanned aircraft. It also requires coordinated participation from supporting industries, including sensor technology, control systems, telecommunications, artificial intelligence and data processing. These capabilities are needed to build domestic production, operation and maintenance capacity rather than relying mainly on imported equipment.
Nguyen Cam Phuong, SAIGONTEL's General Director, said Vietnam had established a clear strategic direction, with science, technology and innovation set to drive the country's next phase of growth.
The partnership brings manufacturing, testing and training together in Vietnam, she said. This will enable Vietnamese engineers and businesses to design, build and validate their systems domestically and compete in global markets.
Joseph H. Felter, Managing Director of Pickaxe Technologies, said simply purchasing drones was not enough to build an industry. What the country needed was a place to manufacture, test and validate these emerging systems.
He also praised the partnership with SAIGONTEL and described the Vietnamese company as a trusted partner as Vietnam develops autonomous technologies.
Following the signing, the two sides will develop a detailed proposal for a low-altitude economy project in Vietnam for submission to relevant central and local authorities. The proposal is expected to outline potential sites, infrastructure requirements, technology partners, financing plans and an implementation roadmap.
A joint working group will be established to coordinate planning and implementation. Specific projects will be defined under separate formal agreements.
Sources: VietnamPlus / Vietnam News Agency
