Drones have created new threats and challenges, promoting breakthrough developments in air combat methods and tactics. To effectively prevent and combat drones in the war to protect the Fatherland, commanders of air defence units and agencies ought to deal with numerous problems, especially command and coordination in combat.

Recent military conflicts in the world show that drones are widely used by warring parties, with different scales, methods and tactics in each stage of combat. In particular, the use of small and super small drones, "swarm" attacks, simultaneously attacking targets with high density, high intensity, in a short time, has created great challenges, making it very difficult for the enemy to cope with.

In addition, drones are also used for reconnaissance, surveillance, communication, target designation, and decoy purposes; or both reconnaissance and target indication, and "soft suppression" of air defence systems, and can operate in conjunction with ground, air, and sea forces when equipped with modern combat vehicles. When maneuvering in combat, drones can take advantage of established areas and flight routes, "hide" under the guise of medium-speed transport aircraft, secretly and suddenly attack reconnaissance and prepared targets, etc. With outstanding advantages: easy to manufacture, open structure, easy to improve, mass production, relatively low investment cost, flexible combat methods, high combat efficiency, drones have become one of the main and dangerous means of combat for the warring parties. In particular, with the strong development of science and technology, drones are likely to become weapons that "dominate the battlefield" in the future.

In the war to protect the Fatherland (if it happens), the possibility of the enemy using drones to attack economic, political and military targets is very high. In recent times, as the core force on the air front, air defence units have been interested in investing in weapons, equipment, training and participating in experimental exercises to fight unmanned aerial vehicles. In addition, the forces to prevent and combat unmanned aircraft of the military services, branches, military regions and army corps have been further strengthened and improved. These are favourable conditions for air defence forces to successfully complete the task of managing and safeguarding airspace, protecting targets, forces and means when combat occurs.

The XRQ-73 UAV developed by DARPA (Photo: cand.com.vn)

However, the prevention and combat of drones is a new form of combat for agencies and units, especially air defence forces. Therefore, to complete this important task, commanders and agencies, especially commanders of air defence units, need to solve several problems; in which, command and coordination are the most important tasks. This article discusses some issues on command and coordination of air defence forces in fighting drones.

First of all, combat command must be resolute, focused, unified, flexible, and timely. Combat command is a purposeful, tightly organised, and unified activity; it is the action of the commander and the commanding agency, directing units and forces to take advantage of all efforts to successfully complete combat missions, including the mission of fighting drones. Therefore, the requirement for the commander and agency is to review and grasp the development trends, technical features, and tactics of drones; at the same time, accurately predict the enemy's plots, tricks, and rules for using this type of vehicle, etc. to direct air defence units and forces to develop appropriate combat plans and strategies. When developing combat plans and strategies, it is necessary to accurately determine the areas and targets that need to be focused on protecting; estimate the number and direction of enemy aircraft to attack, and the main combat methods; how to organise, use and arrange forces, ... from there, command the forces to promote the combined strength to effectively fight the enemy's drones.

Currently, the weapons and equipment of the air defence force have basically been used for many years, with limited technical features. Therefore, when commanding combat, the commander must closely follow the combat plan, grasp the direction, flight path, quantity, type of enemy aircraft and the opportunity to open fire, command the unification of the air defence force, concentrate firepower, form an "air defence fire net" with the highest density in the direction and area of ​​the main target, and promptly destroy the target. During the command process, it is possible to apply the method of commanding according to hierarchy or above the level; however, in emergency cases, situations arise quickly, enemy drones fly low, appear suddenly, in large numbers, it is possible to command above the level, directly to the air defence fire squad. Along with that, the commander of the air defence unit needs to closely coordinate with the army air defence forces of the units and localities to effectively handle the situations. After each battle and attack, promptly organise to draw lessons, find out the reconnaissance methods, operating rules, ways to use enemy drones, as well as the most suitable combat methods for each type and category to serve as a basis for commanding the air defence force to fight drones in the following waves.

Second, ensure close, specific, meticulous coordination based on the commander's combat intention and determination. Combat coordination to fight unmanned aircraft is the coordination of activities between air defence forces and other forces based on tasks, directions, areas, targets, locations, times and methods of implementation in a close, organised manner, in order to promote the strength of the forces and successfully complete combat objectives. Therefore, when organising coordination, the requirement for the commander of the air defence force and the agency is to conduct it carefully, closely, specifically, meticulously, according to a unified plan and closely follow the combat plan and determination. The contents of the coordination plan must be thoroughly disseminated by the air defence commander to each force and firepower unit, especially the regulations on coordination signs and signals.

The coordination content must be comprehensive, specific, meticulous, and suitable for each force, task, in each stage of combat. When coordinating, it is necessary to focus on the tasks: reconnaissance to detect targets, notify and warn about enemy drone activities; provide fire support to protect the combat formation of the combined arms; the ability to mobilise the potential of the defence area, ensure communications, logistics, and technology to serve combat missions, etc. In particular, the commanders of air defence units must coordinate closely with the army air defence forces of the units in the combat area; coordinate with the targets and units that need to be protected; air force, radar, missiles, and electronic warfare and cyber warfare forces participating in the combat - the most important content of the air defence force, in order to create a dense "air defence fire net" to attack enemy drones. When practicing combating drones, various units and forces participating, each unit and force is equipped with different weapons and combat vehicles, so when coordinating, the commander and the agency need to flexibly and creatively apply forms and measures, ensuring that no content or tasks are missed; at the same time, adjust and supplement during the combat process to promote the combined strength of the forces.

Third, ensure efficient command and coordination to effectively prevent and combat the enemy's electronic warfare. This is a pivotal content that directly decides the results of organising command and coordination to combat drones. Therefore, the commanders of air defence units and agencies must prepare the command system at all levels, from the air defence brigade command to the command of air defence squads; Fully and synchronously arrange equipment and facilities at command posts at all levels, and ensure the ability to move quickly and compactly. The members and forces participating in command teams at all levels must have good professional qualifications and know how to creatively and flexibly apply command methods. Along with that, ensure a timely, smooth, solid, secret and safe communication system for command and combat coordination in all situations. Focus on fully equipping technical means and communication, notification and alarm systems for observation stations and air defence fire units, in which priority is given to equipping modern technical means for this force.

In the war to safeguard the Fatherland, the combatants would use high-tech weapons combined with drones equipped with jammers to limit our ability to detect and combat. Therefore, effective anti-jamming and electronic warfare are important factors that determine the effectiveness of fighting drones. Accordingly, commanders and agencies need to command and direct air defence forces to closely coordinate and cooperate with electronic warfare forces, cyber warfare forces, etc. to attack the enemy's radio-electronic systems; protect our equipment, radio-electronic systems, and computers; promptly grasp information about enemy drone attacks to effectively prevent and combat jamming, electronic warfare, and cyber warfare; limit our ability to reconnaissance and attack targets, thereby promoting the combat capability of air defence forces in fighting drones.

Currently and in the future, drones are playing an increasingly important role in air attacks, with increasingly diverse and complex methods. Effectively preventing and combating drones in the war to safeguard the Fatherland is a new and difficult problem, requiring agencies and units in general, the core of which is the air defence force, to conduct in-depth and comprehensive research; find out the strengths and weaknesses of each type of aircraft, effective prevention and combat measures, combining both techniques and tactics; in which, command and coordination is the central content that needs to be thoroughly studied.

Senior Colonel, Dr. NGUYEN VAN DUC, Air Defence - Air Force Academy