The building and development of defence industry are strategic and consistent priorities of the Party and the State in enhancing the combat power of the Military and national defence capabilities to ensure the firm defence of the Fatherland. However, in the implementation of this work, there are still some limitations and shortcomings that need to be further studied to work out rational and uniformed solutions to build a “modern, dual-purpose, and closely integrated” defence industry that serves as spearhead of national industry.

In recent years, implementing resolutions and directives of the Party and the State, especially Resolution No. 06-NQ/TW dated 16 July 2011, of the Politburo, “On the building and development of defence industry through 2020 and the following years,” the Military, as the core force, has systematically deployed various strategies and measures to strengthen leadership and guidance for the development of defence industry, focusing on consolidating and restructuring force organisation, enhancing defence capabilities to carry out research, production, repair, improvement, and modernisation of weapons and equipment with high tactical, technical, and quality features. As a result, our military science and technology potential has gradually improved, and international cooperation in defence industry has been emphasised. In particular, we have successfully conducted the research and development of several types of new and modern weapons, such as anti-explosive reactive armour weapon systems and munitions, various types of armour-piercing ammunition, new types of mortar shells with higher accuracy and lethality, night vision and targeting systems, camouflage materials resistant to optical reconnaissance, thermal imaging radars, new-generation communication equipment, electronic warfare equipment, etc. Defence industry plants have made significant contributions to the industrialisation and modernisation of the country, providing jobs and ensuring stable income for their employees.

Besides these achievements, the understanding of the building and development of defence industry at certain levels of Party committees, party organisations, ministries, branches, and localities has not been sufficient and profound. Some still consider this as a closed sector, treating this task as solely the responsibility of the Ministry of National Defence. The establishment of specific mechanisms and policies to attract technological and financial resources for defence industry development is still slow. There are reliability and stability issues with some products. Although there is attention given to the integration of defence industry production to civil economy production, the effectiveness of this combination remains low. Also, there are challenges in the implementation of dual-purpose features in investment projects and in maintaining the pool of specialised military officers, defence workers, and technological production lines for weapons and equipment. The work of building, planning, and developing national scientific and technological capabilities, as well as mobilising civilian industry to support defence industry, has not been given sufficient importance.

In the coming years, under the influence of globalisation and international integration, coupled with the rapid development of the 4^th Industrial Revolution, there will be many breakthroughs in the field of military science, leading to the emergence of many modern weapons and equipment, thereby changing the methods of conducting warfare. This requires our defence industry to overcome numerous difficulties and challenges, ensuring the capability to provide weapons and technical equipment for the Military to defeat any invasion and firmly protect the Socialist Fatherland of Vietnam. To continue the “building and development of a defence industry that is modern and dual-purpose, meeting the requirements and tasks of protecting the Fatherland, while also making a significant contribution to socio-economic development”, and to accelerate the modernisation process of the Military, it is necessary to focus on effectively implementing the following key solutions:

First, innovate and improve the quality of propaganda and education work to bring about a significant, profound, and comprehensive transformation in the awareness, attitude, motivation, and responsibility of Party committees, authorities, ministries, branches, localities, and the entire political system. This particularly applies to key leadership positions at all levels regarding the position, role, importance, and necessity of focusing on the building and development of defence industry. Only through unified and improved awareness can we create strong motivation and harness a combined strength for the development of the defence industry. To achieve this, based on a solid understanding of strategies and viewpoints regarding military matters and national defence, and the Party’s policies, objectives, requirements, and solutions for the building and development of defence industry until 2030 and beyond, ministries, branches and localities, as well as the entire Military, especially the agencies and units under the General Department of Defence Industry, need to build determination, focus, and unity in leadership, direction, and coordinated implementation. At the same time, it is essential to strictly adhere to the laws governing defence industry, emphasise their core role in propaganda, education, and thorough awareness-raising among cadres, Party members, and the entire population regarding the task of building and developing defence industry in the new situation. In addition, there is a need to overcome the mentality of underestimating defence industry development and viewing it as the exclusive responsibility of the Ministry of National Defence.

Second, implement the research, development, supplement, and issuance of a cohesive Defence Industry Law and associated sub-law documents, and enhance the State’s management role in defence industry. This involves compiling, legalising, and maximising the effectiveness of specific mechanisms and policies regarding defence industry development, including those concerning the research and application of scientific and technological achievements, the utilisation of investment projects and the development of key products, the mobilisation of financial resources and economic sectors and large enterprises to invest in the development of defence industry, the recruitment, training and preserving high-quality human resources, encouraging talents to contribute to the building and development of defence industry, and the operational management of core defence industry enterprises.

Third, conduct study on and establish a state management agency for defence industry with an appropriate model and inter-sectoral structure to enhance the effectiveness of the Government in the management role, assigning direct responsibilities to ministries and sectors for state management. In the short term, the Government decides and tasks the Ministry of National Defence as the lead agency to coordinate with ministries, sectors, and localities in assisting the Government in managing matters regarding defence industry. There will be a reorganisation of core defence industry facilities based on the Project to restructure, reform, and improve business efficiency for military enterprises in alignment with the organisational structure of the Military. This must ensure the simultaneous implementation of both weapon and equipment production and repair tasks in accordance with specialised product categories and the strategic deployment of defence industry in the three regions, and coastal and island areas of the country, aiming towards the establishment of a Defence Industry Complex. Also, it is essential to continue to convert some research institutes into science and technology enterprise models to closely link research and design with production.

Fourth, prioritise budget investment and the implementation of training programmes for high-quality human resources for defence industry. Budget prioritisation for the development of defence industry comes from state budget sources, particularly the foreign exchange reserve fund, especially in key projects and cutting-edge products. Also, it is critical to ensure an adequate budget for planned programmes and projects and the efficient mobilisation of capital from enterprises and the conversion of military-owned land utilisation. For projects investing in the development of new and critical weapons and technical equipment, emphasis must be placed on ensuring a sufficient budget for the comprehensive deployment and coordination of investments in technology chains, laboratories, and human-resource training.

Close collaboration between different training forms and enhanced foreign training programmes, especially for high-tech industries, is also essential. In addition, we must align training with technology transfer in investment projects. And there should be a focus on training and nurturing a corps of competent managers and technical personnel in defence-specific sectors, particularly industry pioneers, chief engineers, and chief designers in the field of research, design, and manufacturing of weapons and equipment.

Fifth, continue the implementation and enhance the quality and efficiency of programmes and projects of researching, designing, manufacturing, repairing, improving and modernising weapons and technical equipment. It is essential to effectively accumulate and utilise the scientific and technological development fund of the Ministry of National Defence and enterprises to support the research, design, manufacturing, and development of new weapons and equipment. In addition, we should mobilise national resources (human resources, scientific and technological expertise, financial sources, etc.) for the research and development of modern weapons and technical equipment. Furthermore, there is a need to increase the emphasis on digital transformation and the application of the 4^th industrial revolution platform technologies in the research, design, manufacturing, production, management, and development of economic products.

Sixth, innovate the technologies for production, repair, improvement, and modernisation of weapons and technical equipment to achieve advancements both in quantity and in new types of hardware with high combat and technical capabilities, aligning with the Military’s procurement strategy. We must avoid importing products that our defence industry has been able to research and produce with sufficient quality. Additionally, there is a need to integrate the task of building and developing defence industry into the national industrial building and development strategy; effectively establish and implement close coordination mechanisms among ministries, sectors, and localities, prioritise the development of strong defence industry sub-sectors to support the national economy, and implementing policies that promote the development of key national industries such as chemicals, metallurgy, mechanical engineering, electronics, information technology, and telecommunications, integrating them into the defence industrial production chain. Furthermore, there should be efforts to strengthen joint ventures and partnerships with civilian enterprises to mobilise scientific and technological potential for defence industry research and production activities, as well as invest in supporting civilian businesses that serve national defence affairs.

Seventh, step up international cooperation and efficiently implement various forms of technological collaboration, technology transfer, and the application of scientific and technological achievements for the production of weapons and technical equipment. We must identify strategic partners for scientific and technological collaboration to develop strategic weapons and high-tech weaponry. Also, it is critical to enhance the competitiveness and international integration capabilities of defence industry enterprises and promote exports to generate reinvestment sources for defence industry. In addition, there should be strict project management of investment projects, and research and development programmes and projects for weapons and technical equipment must be carefully planned with appropriate timelines, ensuring focus and effectiveness, avoiding insufficient allocation and waste of resources. Simultaneously, we must strengthen inspection, supervision, rectification, and prevention of wrongdoings, losses, and waste. Furthermore, there is a need to conduct thorough reviews and issue timely commendations for collectives and individuals with achievements, innovations, and contributions to the building and development of defence industry.

These are some preliminary solutions contributing to enhancing the capacity of defence industry to ensure the fulfillment of requirements of the tasks of training, combat readiness, Military modernisation, and participating in the industrialisation and modernisation of the country in the new situation. The author is looking forward to exchanging thoughts with the readers.

Senior Colonel, Assoc. Prof., Dr. NGUYEN THANH LONG, National Defence Academy