In 2025, the two branches of logistics and technique complete the merger into a logistics - technique agency at all three levels: tactical, operational and strategic. This is a big step forward in the process of building an "elite, compact and strong" Army, moving towards modernity. However, this shift also poses several difficulties and challenges that require the entire Army, especially the Technique branch, to promote the spirit of initiative, creativity and self-reliance to successfully accomplish work tasks, meeting the requirements and tasks of building the Army and safeguarding the Fatherland.

In 2024, the Military Technique branch has thoroughly grasped and strictly implemented the resolutions, directives and orders of the Central Military Commission and the Ministry of National Defence, and successfully accomplished assigned tasks with numerous excellent achievements. Most notably, technical agencies at all levels have advised and effectively implemented Resolution No. 1656-NQ/QUTW, dated 20 December 2022 of the Central Military Commission on leading technical work until 2030 and the following years; equipment assurance and technical assurance work has made steady progress. The entire Army has maintained qualified equipment coefficient and technical coefficient of weapons and equipment, ensuring full, synchronous and timely readiness for combat readiness, training, flood and storm prevention, search and rescue, and important political events of the country and the Army. In particular, it has successfully led and directed the implementation of the merger of logistics and technique agencies at the operational level; effectively implemented digital transformation, applied information technology and promoted cooperation and foreign affairs in the field of military technique, and created breakthroughs to improve the quality and efficiency of work. However, in the past year, technical work still has limitations, requiring Party committees and commanders at all levels to seriously draw lessons and take timely and remedial measures.

Lt. Gen. Tran Minh Duc speaks at the ceremony on founding the General Department of Logistics and Technique (Photo: qdnd.vn)

2025 is the year of important political events of the Party, the State, and the Army; the year of holding Party congresses at all levels, especially the 14th National Party Congress; "The year of accelerating, breaking through, and successfully completing the goals and tasks of the Resolution of the 11th Army’s Party Congress and the Resolution of the 13th National Party Congress". The Army has carried out pivotal tasks and work contents with higher requirements for technical assurance. The above reality requires the entire Army, first of all the Technique branch, to continue to promote its core role, promote innovation and creativity, and strive to successfully complete the targets and tasks of 2025 and the entire 2020-2025 term, in which the focus is on successfully implementing key tasks and solutions as follows:

Firstly, focus on thoroughly grasping and implementing the Party's guidelines and policies; resolutions and directives of the Central Military Commission and the Ministry of National Defence on Military technical work. In particular, focus on thoroughly grasping and implementing the direction of General Secretary To Lam for the Military Technique branch: it must be the leading bird in scientific and technological innovation, in acquiring the latest and most modern achievements of human intelligence to apply to the development of Vietnam's military technique and the country's industrialisation task. In the immediate future, the branch will proactively grasp and accurately forecast the situation, and efficiently perform the advisory function, especially at the strategic level in the field of military technique. Focus on advising, leading and directing the effective implementation of the merger of the General Department of Logistics with the General Department of Technique into the General Department of Logistics - Technique in accordance with the direction of the Central Military Commission and the Ministry of National Defence; Research and propose to improve the organisation of the Technique branch, perfect the technical assurance method to ensure unity in the organisation of command and technical assurance in the entire Army; build up comprehensively strong, "exemplary, typical" technical agencies at all levels, etc. in accordance with the practical situation.

Along with that, adjust and supplement the targets and measures to implement Resolution No. 1656-NQ/QUTW, dated 20 December 2022 of the Central Military Commission on leading technical work until 2030 and the following years and the 50 Campaign. Focus on advising, leading and directing the implementation of approved projects, programmes, plans for technical assurance, procurement, production, modernisation of weapons and equipment and implementing measures to promote innovation, improve the quality and effectiveness of technical work; build up potential, strong technical posture,... to meet the requirements of building the Army, consolidating National Defence, and safeguarding the Fatherland in the new situation. For higher efficiency, agencies and units need to enhance the role and responsibility of the leaders in leadership, direction, and implementation; closely link the implementation of Resolution No. 1656-NQ/QUTW with the Emulation movements; encourage exemplary units and models; promptly inspect, supervise, detect and correct limitations with the focus on overcoming limitations that are identified after inspections and supervisions.

Secondly, improve the quality and effectiveness of technical support. Promoting the achieved results, in the coming time, along with promoting the implementation of key projects, programmes and plans for procurement, production, innovation and modernisation of technical equipment, the Branch will continue to comprehensively implement all aspects of technical work in a fundamental, solid, focused, and non-dispersed direction. In the immediate future, focus on organising the preservation and maintenance of existing weapons and technical equipment in the entire Army. Firmly maintain the technical status of weapons and technical equipment that have been synchronised in recent years; at the same time, focus on synchronising new-generation weapons and technical equipment, and weapons recovered after exchange for units. Continue to improve the quality of weapons and technical equipment repair, sources mobilisation; strategic, operational and tactical repair; complete repair plans at factories and enterprises; accomplish the major repair of aircraft; small and medium repairs for submarines, etc. To meet the requirements in the new situation, the Branch continues to research and innovate the methods of technical support according to the life cycle for new-generation weapons and equipment, applying high technology; promoting the implementation of in-depth technology investment projects; improving the quality of the warehouse system and repair facilities at all levels, preventing serious safety incidents and fires. Actively review, adjust and supplement the complete system of logistics and technical documents in combat at all levels; proactively maintain forces and means to ensure timely and synchronised weapons and technical equipment to serve the tasks of combat readiness, training, drills, rescue and relief; serving major holidays and important events of the country, focusing on the 50th Anniversary of the Liberation of the South and National Reunification (30 April 1975 – 30 April 2025); 80 years of the August Revolution Anniversary and the Independence Day of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam (2 September 1945 - 2 September 2025). Complete the development of the 5-year Medium-Term Plan (2026 - 2030) for the Military Technique branch. Along with that, continue to direct the construction of strategic weapons depots with the application of new technology; focus on investing in consolidating and building new warehouse systems, weapon shelters, and technical equipment as planned. Successfully implement the National Programme, and Labour Safety and Hygiene Month; organise inspections, checks; and technical safety tests of machinery and equipment with strict safety regulations.

Thirdly, promote the core role in leading and directing the implementation of the 50 Campaign, creating strong changes in safety assurance work. After the preliminary summary of the 50 Campaign for the period 2020 - 2025, agencies and units have urgently reviewed the programme and plan for implementing the Campaign, promptly supplemented targets and measures for the period 2025 - 2030 and the following years, ensuring feasibility and suitability with the practical situation. To achieve high efficiency, agencies and units need to quickly consolidate the organisations, improve the operational efficiency of the Steering Committee; promote the implementation of decentralisation of leadership and direction; focus on comprehensively implementing the goals and targets of the Campaign with focuses and key points, especially the breakthroughs to change limited aspects in technical work and strongly direct activities to the grassroots level. In particular, resolutely not let insecurity occur due to technical reasons. Accordingly, technical departments, agencies and units continue to review, supplement and strictly comply with rules, procedures, regulations and technological disciplines during the exploitation, use and preservation of technical supplies, especially with new-generation weapons and technical equipment. Thoroughly grasp and seriously implement Directive No. 35/CT-TTg, dated 17 September 2024 of the Prime Minister; Directive No. 79/CT-BQP, dated 8 July 2024 of the Ministry of National Defence on strengthening leadership and management of ensuring order and safety of road traffic in the Army. On that basis, resolutely implement solutions to improve the quality of training and testing for military driving licenses; strictly manage the use of cars and motorbikes; strengthen the efficiency of inspection and control, coordinate with the Traffic Police force to conduct activities to ensure traffic safety, strictly handle military personnel who violate traffic laws to reduce unsafe incidents in traffic, especially incidents caused by subjective errors; strive to reduce from 5% - 7% of unsafe incidents occurring in all three criteria of traffic safety, safe-kilometre rate reaching and exceeding 7 million kilometres per one A and B incident.

Fourthly, promote innovation; improve the quality of training, disciplining and military technical cooperation. Closely following the 2025 Logistics and Technical Work Directive, agencies and units actively innovate the content and methods of technical training for subjects, improve the qualifications and capacity of command, management, and technical assurance for technical staff and employees; strengthen training in exploiting and mastering new-generation, high-tech weapons and technical equipment and improved, modernised weapons and technical equipment; conduct practice of combat readiness plans for logistics and technical agencies and units close to reality and task requirements; focus on ensuring safety before, during and after training. Agencies and units strictly maintain the discipline and working regime of the Branch; Review and propose amendments and supplements to ensure the consistency and unity in the system of legal documents of military technique. Review and supplement the construction of a system of technical assurance norms; update and supplement technical work data to serve the drafting of Party Congress documents at all levels. Prepare and hold the 50 Campaign review conference for the period 2021 - 2025 at the Ministry of National Defence level (expected in the second quarter); The 4th 5-year conference to review the emulation movement "Safe, economical and effective management and use of gasoline and oil" for the period 2020 - 2025 (expected in the fourth quarter); strengthen inspection work, launch practical and effective sports festivals, competitions and training courses for the Technique branch at all levels. Along with that, promote international cooperation in military technology; promote the functions of the Standing Group of the Military Technical Cooperation Sub-Committee. Effectively implement tasks C and K; technical mobilisation work; scientific research, technology, innovation, creativity and digital transformation in the Technique branch.

Thoroughly grasping the assigned functions and tasks, the Military Technique branch is determined to strive to successfully complete the technical work targets and tasks, along with the entire Army to successfully perform the military and defence tasks in 2025, contributing to building an elite, strong, and modern Army.

Lieutenant General TRAN MINH DUC, Chief of the General Department of Logistics and Technique