In a potential defensive war to defend our Motherland, achieving success in air defence actions, especially in the early stages of the war, is a matter of strategic importance. Therefore, strengthening our air defence capability to defeat enemy’s air strikes and safely protect designated targets is critical and urgent requirement, both in the short term and in the long run.

Air defence combat is the organised combat activities of armed forces units, with the core being the Air Defence Force of the tri-element military, aimed at defeating enemy’s airbourne attacks, air invasions, airspace violation activities, protecting assigned targets, ensuring the safety of the population, and the integrity of the national territory. The prominent characteristic of air defence combat is its high level of integration; it takes place urgently, intensively, and in a complex and constantly changing operational environment; the combat space is extensive; and it involves great and complex efforts to comprehensively support the combat actions.

In previous liberation wars, we have gained valuable experience in building and establishing air defence force and posture as well as organising preparations and combat operations. However, in a potential war to defend the Motherland in the future, both the enemy and our operational environment will undergo significant changes and developments. In particular, the enemy will thoroughly exploit its advantages in terms of forces, resources, high-tech weaponry, and electronic and cyber warfare capabilities, combine “indirect contact” with “direct contact” combat, and intensify the use of unmanned aerial vehicles for reconnaissance, target designation, and lethal strikes, as well as employ bombing operations to incite internal unrest and coup de tat and facilitate rapid achievement of their objectives. This reality requires corresponding changes and developments in our air defence capabilities. Key and urgent matters in this regard are the effective preparation in all aspects, the enhancement of combat capabilities, and the utilisation of the combined strength of our armed forces.

Major General Pham Truong Son checks combat readiness state at Regiment 224, Division 375

In recent years, under the leadership of the Party, and the implementation of the Homeland Defence Strategy and specialised strategies, particularly the National Defence Strategy and Military Strategy, our tri-element Air Defence Force and air defence posture have been gradually enhanced. The Service of Air Defence - Air Force, Electronic Warfare units, Technical Reconnaissance, etc., have been rapidly modernised. Training, exercises, scientific and technical military research, and the art of air defence combat are consistently prioritised. Based on the theatre organisation, we have formed appropriate Air Defence and Air Force task groups, ensuring combat capability even when strategically isolated. Simultaneously, significant attention has been given to air defence in naval domain. In addition, networks of radars, anti-aircraft positions, airbases, command and control systems, and logistical bases have been strengthened. A resilient and interconnected tri-element air defence posture with depth and key focus, especially along strategic directions, has been established, ensuring timely detection, report, and alerting of enemy airstrikes to protect our fighting forces and people.

In the coming years, the global and regional situation continues to experience numerous complex and unpredictable developments. The rapid development of military science and technology, thanks to the application of achievements from the 4^th Industrial Revolution, has led to the emergence of many new “smart”, modern, and highly accurate weapons, including unmanned aerial vehicles. This leads to breakthroughs and unpredictable methods in air combat, presenting new threats and challenges. In this context, to enhance air defence capabilities, it is essential to focus on effectively implementing the following key measures:

First, enhance our capacity for strategic study planning related to air defence combat. This is the top priority solution to ensure that our Motherland is not caught off guard in any situation. It also serves as the foundation for setting the direction and providing strategic insight for the general mission of homeland defence and specifically for air defence combat in the new situation. It is necessary to continue to leverage the role, coordination, and cooperation of strategic agencies in studying, assessing, and forecasting relevant scenarios, especially the ones regarding our partners and potential threats. This includes delving into the specific study on potential air defence threats, new developments of force organisation and structure, weapons, and equipment of the adversary’s air force, intel on their exercises, their schemes, tactics, and methods of air strikes. Also, the research work should provide insights into the opposing force’s forms of warfare, air strike planning on each theatre and the entirety of our national airspace. Subsequently, these insights should guide the development of comprehensive strategies and solutions for us to proactively guard against potential risks from afar and handle air combat scenarios effectively, ensuring that we remain in control and avoid surprises in any situation.

Second, strengthen political and ideological education, continuously raising vigilance, fostering determination, courage, and fighting morale for forces in line with task requirements. This is a crucial matter with significant implications for success on the air defence domain, especially in the current phase when our forces must fight against a potential enemy possessing much larger material strength. Therefore, the leadership and command of agencies and units need to continually grasp the military and defence policy of the Party, the mission of defending the Motherland in the new situation, especially the air defence mission and the challenges it presents, including both traditional and non-traditional challenges. Strengthening political education, shaping ideological orientation, building political and morale elements, and being confidence in our military art and tactics and the capabilities and strength of our existing weaponry and equipment are essential. In particular, it is important to focus on nurturing the spirit of “daring to fight, knowing how to fight, and being determined to win” within our armed forces. Simultaneously, we need to regularly gather intel and keep up to date with scientific, technical, and technological advancements, identify the enemy’s schemes, tactics, as well as the strengths and weaknesses of their new weapons and equipment, to study and develop suitable combat strategies and foster high fighting morale for our armed forces.

Vietnam Air Forces conduct training

Third, build an elite, compact and robust air defence in line with the construction of a continuous, fortified, deep, and focused air defence posture. This solution has a direct and thorough impact on the combat capabilities of our air defence contingents and the art of air defence combat in a potential defensive war in the future. Hence, it is necessary to vigorously build a strong and extensive tri-element Air Defence Forces linked to the establishment of solid regional defences in each area, capable of defeating airborne attacks in all situations. There should be a concentrated effort in building a modern and efficient Air Defence - Air Force, gradually modernising the Army Air Defence Force in line with our military modernisation roadmap. In addition, focus should also be placed on nurturing a high-quality human resource pool. There should be adjustments in the force structures of certain units and branches, and we also need to organise specialised air defence units, especially anti-UAV units. Additionally, capabilities that are relevant to air defence combat, such as Information Communication, Electronic Warfare, Cyber Warfare, etc. should be further developed. Furthermore, we need to make adjustments in the air defence postures across the country and on each theatre to ensure that they are interconnected, strong, in-depth, focused, and in line with the combat posture of strategic, operational, regional and provincial levels, and closely integrated with the people’s air defence posture in each region, strategic area, and the entire country.

To enhance the quality of training, exercises, and combat readiness of our air defence units, it is crucial to thoroughly and effectively implement Resolution No. 1657-NQ/QUTW, dated December 20, 2022, by the Central Military Commission on “Enhancing the quality of training for the period 2023-2030 and the following years”. The focus should be placed on innovating and improving the quality of training and exercises for all units. Comprehensive training should be conducted with emphasis and specialisation tailored to specific target groups, adapted to the new combat conditions, and aligned with the force structure and organisation, weapons, equipment, and tactics of each unit.

The training of air defence units should focus on improving the proficiency in combat coordination and handling air defence combat situations. This includes methods and techniques of identifying, tracking and monitoring RCS targets, such as stealth aircraft and small or micro unmanned aerial vehicles. Effective communication and alert systems should be organised for the timely deployment of combat units to securely protect assigned targets. Another focus is the proficiency in operating newly-equipped and modern weaponry and equipment. In addition, units should be trained to handle enemy’s aerial infiltration on any terrain and under all weather conditions. Training must also enhance units’ mobility, and there should be improvement in the quality of single-sided, 2-leveled exercises, aiming to gradually conduct 2-sided, 2-leveled exercises with live troops on a moderate scale. These exercises should integrate combined arms operations practice with live firing drills.

Furthermore, we must continue to strictly adhere to and implement Regulation No. 2582/QyĐ-TM, dated August 31, 2022, by the Chief of the General Staff, regarding the “Regulation on combat readiness for the Air Defence - Air Force and the entire air defence and air force units of the Military”, and the “4 knows” approach in airspace management, and relevant government decrees, directives, and decisions. In addition, it is essential to regularly update the combat documentation system, organise forces, equipment, weapons, and strictly maintain the combat readiness regime. Also, there should be focus on the rapid completion of the automated command and control system for air defence and air force combat operations with connections to all air defence division command posts throughout the entire military. Additionally, we must continue to automatise the information processing and dissemination system, speed up the implementation of Project VQ2 for uniformity within the Air Defence - Air Force branch, and complete the digitalisation of the air defence and air force alert system through (TB-18) to apply in national airspace management.

Fourth, enhance the quality and effectiveness of command, coordination, and support service works. To ensure a high level of focus and unity in action, creating favourable fighting conditions, and leverage the combined strength of various forces to meet the requirements of the air defence combat mission, it is necessary to continue researching the organisation of a scientifically structured and rational system of command posts with clear hierarchy, capable of reliable and stable operation, especially in conditions where the enemy conducts strong electronic warfare, extensive cyber warfare, and uses advanced weaponry aiming to disable our command and coordination capabilities. In addition, we must speed up digital transformation and bolster the application of modern technology in command and control.

As the core force, the Air Defence - Air Force Service takes the lead in coordinating and collaborating with relevant forces to proactively monitor aerial situations from all ranges; accurately and timely detect, report, alert, and handle all situations to prevent our forces from being passive and caught off guard. Also, special attention should be paid to guiding and inspecting army air defence units in adjusting and supplementing combat resolutions and coordination plans in each theatre and area in line with real-life situations. When combat occurs, based on the air defence operations of the Air Defence units at the regional and corps levels, as well as local air defence, units must join forces to deal with the enemy on a wide-scale across the area, creating favourable conditions for the Air Defence - Air Force Service to organise combined actions or air defence operations to protect assigned targets.

In addition to the above aspects, due to the unique nature of air defence combat, units should focus on innovating and improving the quality of support services in all aspects. Particular emphasis should be placed on ensuring logistics and technical support, and specialised support for the Air Defence - Air Force Service to enhance the overall strength and combat capability of contingents participating in air defence, ensuring combat success in all situations.

Fifth, continuously study and develop air defence technology and combat tactics suitable for the new combat conditions. Based on the study of recent world armed conflicts, particularly the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, there is a need to issue military forecasts for future wars. Simultaneously, we should integrate the study of economic and social development, the protection requirements of our targets, our capabilities, and the combat environment to guide research and development of air defence technology and combat tactics in line with real-life situations. Focus should be placed on improvements in our existing weaponry and technical equipment, target engagement methods for each force in the context of modern warfare, the development of air defence operational art, and countermeasure, mobility, and camouflage methods to ensure force protection. In the short term, to minimise defence and security risks, it is necessary to effectively implement the Ministry of Defense’s “Combat and Counter Unmanned Aerial Vehicles” plan; gradually improve the theory and compile training materials and curricula related to air defence combat and unmanned aerial vehicle countermeasures; study and propose guidance for the upgrade, improvement, production, and procurement of new weapons, equipment to counter unmanned aerial threats to meet training and combat readiness requirements.

In addition, it is necessary to continue to study and flexibly and creatively adapt the valuable experience of air defence combat from our resistance war against the US Imperialism for national liberation, as well as recent global conflicts, into the practical context of our country. Also, focus should be placed on the research and development of theories regarding cyber warfare, electronic warfare, and missile force operations to effectively carry out the assigned tasks.

Enhancing air defence combat capabilities in the face of new combat conditions is a significant challenge, applicable during peacetime and wartime, involving various levels, branches, and forces. Therefore, it is necessary to implement a comprehensive set of solutions to create a foundation and conditions for leveraging the combined strength of various forces, with the core being the tri-element air defence force, to defeat potential enemy’s air offensives and contribute to the robust defence of the sky of the Motherland in the new situation.

Major General PHAM TRUONG SON, Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People's Army