The communication network in combat in general, in defensive operations against the enemy plan to isolate and cut off the Central Region and Central Highlands Theaters in particular is a critical component and the decisive material basis that brings about seamless communication for the Theatre Command to lead the operation to victory. This is a serious, complex and difficult task that needs to be thoroughly studied and implemented right from peacetime.

The Central Region and the Central Highlands have always been strategically important areas in terms of national politics, economy, defence, security and diplomacy. This is a stretch of coastal land with many critical lines of communication, but has narrow depth. Therefore, in a potential conflict in the future, these will be ideal areas for the enemy to conduct strategic cut-off actions. To realise this, it will mainly use joint forces equipped with sophisticated weapons, initiating cyber warfare and electronic warfare operations, combining with physical strikes to attack key military, political and economic targets, especially our military headquarters, communication centres and automated command and control network. In this scenario, our signal corps will have to provide communication support for a wide range of forces, tasks and combat operations in both defensive and offensive actions. Meanwhile, strategic defensive actions often occur from the beginning and throughout the conflict, in multiple directions and areas with rapid development and complex contingencies; therefore it is essential to maintain effective and rapid communication for our forces’ command and control and coordination. To ensure secure, timely and accurate communication in all situations during a strategic defensive operation, we must combine the implementation of various tasks, tactics and methods, in which the organisation of the communication network is a decisive factor. This article will discuss several issues in the realisation of this critical task.

First, organise the communication network suitable with the combat plan for the strategic defence of the area. This is both a requirement and a principle in organising and employing the communication network; at the same time, the most important solution to ensure a seamless and robust communication network, because the combat plan of the commander is the most important basis to form the combat disposition in general and the communication network in particular. Therefore, based on the combat plan of the Theatre Command, the signal corps needs to develop a plan for the deployment and disposition of all the components of the communication system per the disposition of our forces in each combat zones (direction). In which, the focus should be the disposition, deployment and utilisation to maximise the combined capability of allied units to ensure seamless, robust and secure communication for combat command, control and coordination. To achieve a high level of efficiency, the communication network must be built right from peacetime and plans must be made to be ready for any adjustment in communication personnel and hardware disposition when conflict occurs. In peacetime, fixed communication systems should be built appropriately based on the existing communication systems, especially the communication system of the Signal Corps, Military Regions, Army Corps, Services, Supporting Arms and Branches, and Regional Defence Zones of Provinces (Cities). The focus should be placed on the construction and disposition of central hubs, communication stations and transmission systems per the combat intentions for each area and direction. Also, it is necessary to further construct and develop extensive optic cable networks, and prioritise the deployment of these networks in critical areas. In addition, we should adjust and deploy new communication stations along all axes, creating “nodes” that connect central hubs, stations and communication lines of all levels. This will serve as the basis for the theatre signal corps to provide communication services for combat leaders to lead, command and manage the operations of their units in the conflict.

Along with that, based on the ratified defensive plan of each zones and locality, the signal corps must develop plans to create alternate and underground routes for our communication lines in critical areas, especially cities and towns that are likely to be the focus of enemy firepower. At the same time, it is necessary to prepare substitute communication stations and lines to ensure our readiness for any contingencies. In combat, based on the fixed communication systems already deployed in peacetime, the signal corps must quickly deploy mobile communication systems to form a completed and robust communication network to provide communication services for combat activities.

Second, establish a stable, robust and flexible communication network. The Central Region and Central Highlands have stretched out and narrow terrain, with the East and Southeast bordering the East Sea, and the West bordering Laos and Cambodia. Therefore, in a potential war in the future, these areas will face the threat of enemy attacks from multiple directions, so the deployment and maintenance of communication service will be extremely difficult. To maintain communication in all situations, our communication network must be stable and robust in each area, especially critical areas.

To do this, communication systems at all levels in the Central Regions and the Central Highland Theatres must be fully deployed and interconnected in each area, able to operate independently or closely coordinate and support each other during combat. First, the focus must be placed on the formation of communication networks for defence zones of cities and provinces, military regions and the strategic postures of Ministerial-level units and other branches in each location. At the same time, it is necessary to gradually adjust and deploy strategic, operational and tactical-level signal units in a reasonable manner in all areas to ensure stability in both peacetime and wartime.

Because a strategic defensive operations against enemy plan to cut off and isolate the Central Region and Central Highlands will be a prolonged and fierce fight with many rapid developments; it is very likely that the enemy will concentrate their overwhelming firepower on critical targets in these areas, so our communication network must stay strong throughout the conflict. Therefore, the Theatre Commander and the Theatre Signal Branch must thoroughly study and grasp the situation, and deploy communication personnel and hardware effectively to maximise the capability and fortes of each unit. Also, it is essential to closely combine fixed and mobile, civilian and military communication systems. At the same time, we should also employ both sophisticated and primitive communication means, radio and wired communication platforms, and utilise a combination of satellite, microwave, postal services, and signal communication. On the other hand, the Theatre Signal Branch must flexibly exploit the features of each communication mean, and use them at the right time to maintain seamless communication throughout the operation.

With diverse and complex terrains, including sea, plains and mountains, the boundaries between areas in the Central Region and the Central Highland are quite blurred, this allows the enemy to launch attacks against us from multiple directions. But such a terrain also enables us to conduct widespread defensive, offensive and counteroffensive actions, to rapidly engage the enemy from their flanks and rear. Therefore, along with the formation of a stable and robust communication network, we must also ensure its flexibility to be able to transform it in any situation to meet the requirements and tasks of the operation. To achieve this, the Theatre Signal Branch must regularly grasp the situation and seize opportunities to quickly transform its battle posture and promptly deploy mobile communication systems to create new networks to keep up with rapid developments on the battlefield.

Third, combine extensive and concentrated force deployment throughout operational zones (direction). A strategic defensive operation against the enemy plan to cut off and isolate in the Central Region and Central Highlands has a vast area of operation with the participation of many forces and employs various fighting methods and tactics. Therefore, building extensive and comprehensive communication networks in all combat zones and directions is necessary. To do this, the plan to develop communication networks must be in close coordination with the socio-economic development and defence-security enhancement of each locality. In addition, the need to maintain communication in wartime should serve as the basis to develop communication networks in peacetime. In which, it is necessary to focus on building communication centres, especially central hubs, fixed communication stations, axes of communication, and communication sub-network in all combat zones and directions. Additionally, we should step-by-step build communication networks in rural, remote, mountainous, coastal areas and islands to form an extensive and uninterrupted communication system.

In strategic defensive combat, battles and operations may occur simultaneously or sequentially in various combat zones, and directions, and at certain times, especially in large cities, coastal plains, and the Central Highlands. Therefore, in addition to ensuring comprehensive communication, it is necessary to concentrate on key priorities to maximise our capability to meet the requirements of leadership, command, and control of our fighting forces, and firmly defend our key political, military and economic targets in the area of operation. In this regard, the focus is on providing communication support for the Theatre Command to carry out defensive, counterattack, and offensive operations to inflict significant losses or complete destruction on the enemy to defeat them in critical directions. To meet these requirements, in addition to mustering fixed communication units in important combat areas and directions, it is necessary to arrange and use appropriate mobile and reserve communication forces, ready to strengthen our command and control capability in key areas as required by the operation. At the same time, the signal branches should always be prepared to provide communication support for the Theatre Command to bypass the chain of command, giving orders straight to units that are directly engaging with the enemy in decisive phases and moments.  

Along with the aforementioned solutions, during peacetime, we need to continue improving the organisation and establishment of our signal units, especially the strategic signal brigades, the military regions’ signal brigades, and signal contingents of arms and branches stationing in the area. Based on this, we should appropriately adjust force disposition, and strengthen training and exercises to make amendments and supplementation for combat plans. Additionally, it is necessary to further study and develop the art of organisation to ensure that our communication capability is consistent with the organisation, structure and modern equipment of our signal corps and our military art in the new situation. Furthermore, we should strengthen the research and development, production and procurement of modern and versatile military communication systems, and focus on improving the quality of our human resources, especially the corps of officers and technicians specialising in communication technology, ready to successfully perform any assigned tasks.

Senior Colonel, Dr. NGUYEN TRONG VINH, Signal College