Master high-tech weapons

The research institutes under the General Department of Defense Industry are considered the “strategic brains”, where ideas are formed, systems are designed and core technologies are developed. Leading us to visit the unit’s Traditional Room, Colonel, Dr. Pham Thanh Trung, Deputy Director of the Military Ship Design Institute, excitedly introduced each ship model.

These are reconnaissance ships, high-speed patrol ships, multi-purpose tugs, high-speed boats, landing craft and a number of other military support ships with many modern features... Many ships have become the Institute's brand such as: 550-ton landing craft (capable of carrying heavy combat vehicles such as tanks, armored vehicles...), SN-1000 submarine hunter, 3,000-ton oil tanker, TS-500CV ship, 1,200CV multi-purpose tug, VDN-150 amphibious transport ship; submarine hunter, equipped with strong firepower... meeting the requirements of training, combat readiness, protecting the sovereignty of the sea and islands of the Fatherland and patrolling and enforcing the law at sea. But not satisfied, Colonel, Dr. Pham Thanh Trung said: "Designing modern warships, smart weapons, and integrated systems is always the aspiration of the staff, scientists and engineers of the Institute". The Institute is focusing on mastering the design of modern auxiliary ships, moving towards designing highly complex combat ships; along with that, focusing on unmanned water vehicles...

Workers at Factory Z181, General Department of Defense Industry, check the technique after gluing the circuit board. Photo: HONG SANG

In the journey of modernizing the Army, the Institute of Technology, General Department of Defense Industry plays a central role in designing, creating and transferring modern defense technology. Established at the end of the resistance war against the US, saving the country, after more than 50 years of formation and development, the Institute has made an important contribution to building a self-reliant defense industry, ensuring weapons and technical equipment for our Army in all situations.

Colonel Le Manh Hung, Deputy Director of the Institute of Technology, said that since 2015, the Institute has completed more than 100 research topics and tasks from the General Department level and above, many of which have been put into production and practical application. The Institute has basically mastered the technology of designing and manufacturing most types of ammunition for army and air defense weapons and some types of naval ammunition. Products such as artillery shells, gun barrels, launchers; some special alloy grades, special materials for manufacturing missile parts, warheads, and shells... are all the results of a meticulous and dedicated research process. Not stopping there, the Institute of Technology is moving towards mastering the technology of parts of high-tech weapons, mobile weapons, and system integration, such as: low-altitude air defense missiles, combat and reconnaissance robots, infantry fighting vehicles, self-propelled artillery, etc., contributing to enhancing the initiative and self-reliance of the domestic defense industry, reducing dependence on imported weapons, supplies, and components from abroad, as well as creating new weapons products for the Army.

Through practical surveys, high-tech products being researched and manufactured at institutes and factories under the General Department of Defense Industry have clearly demonstrated Vietnam's ability to master basic and core technologies. These include: new-generation guided weapons, anti-tank weapons, and anti-explosive reactive armor; incendiary gun and ammunition combinations, thermobaric guns and ammunition; naval artillery and artillery shells; chaff bullets; anti-frogman guns and ammunition; anti-frogman grenades; new-generation extended-range artillery shells; new-model mortar shell systems, sound-cancelling gun and mortar shell systems; machine-gun grenade launchers and ammunition; new-generation sniper guns and ammunition; new-generation light machine guns, submachine guns, and pistols; new-generation firepower weapons on armored vehicles and tanks; combat parts for unmanned vehicles; various types of day-night combined observation and aiming equipment; rapid observation and aiming equipment for infantry guns; thermal imaging equipment integrated with laser rangefinders for sniper rifles; anti-landing mines, anti-tank mines, detonators, and new generation proximity fuses. All of these products are not only the crystallization of knowledge and creativity, but also evidence of a correct strategy: Developing a proactive, self-reliant, self-reliant, dual-purpose, and modern defense industry.

Engineers of Factory Z181, General Department of Defense Industry operate the component welding line. Photo: HONG SANG

In-depth investment, scientific and technological breakthroughs

In recent years, to realize the aspiration of modernizing the Army, units under the General Department of Defense Industry have boldly invested in depth. From investing in upgrading production lines, modernizing factories and testing equipment to deploying digital technology applications, simulation design, and artificial intelligence (AI) in product research and development.

Looking at the overall Vietnamese shipbuilding industry, the Military Ship Design Institute is a newly established unit on March 30, 2009. However, the Institute is gradually affirming itself as a leading unit in research, design and construction of new military ships as well as design and construction of new ships and watercraft to serve the needs of the people. According to Colonel, Dr. Pham Thanh Trung, this achievement stems from the fact that the Institute has clearly identified two pillars of sustainable development: Developing high-quality human resources and researching and applying modern science and technology. In particular, the Institute has focused on innovating the way of organizing scientific research work from the stage of construction, selecting research ideas, reviewing and approving explanations, checking and supervising the implementation process to the acceptance stage; especially boldly assigning difficult topics and key tasks of the unit to young cadres and engineers who are capable and have the desire to contribute. At the same time, in recent years, the Institute has actively advised on investment in upgrading infrastructure, equipment, and ship design software in a modern direction, creating a foundation to improve research and design capacity. Up to now, the unit has implemented many investment projects, creating breakthroughs in technical infrastructure and equipment; building a testing workshop with a full system of mechanical processing machinery; machines and equipment for measuring strength, material hardness, ultrasonic welding defects, and testing the quality of weapons and equipment...

Sharing about the unit's investment orientation, Colonel Le Manh Hung said that the Institute of Technology clearly defines its leading role in research, mastering core technologies, directly serving strategic products such as guided missiles, unmanned aerial vehicles, smart bombs and ammunition, modern control and guidance systems... Therefore, the Institute is focusing on building digital technology infrastructure for defense production, deploying defense "digital factories", building and establishing digital simulation laboratories, virtual testing of weapons before mass production... Along with that, ensuring technology is not only implemented within the unit, but also expanding cooperation with units in the General Department of Defense Industry, cooperating with research institutes, universities, technology enterprises at home and abroad...

According to Lieutenant General Dinh Quoc Hung, Party Secretary and Political Commissar of the General Department of Defense Industry, in the coming time, to meet the goals and requirements of developing a modern, dual-use defense industry, both meeting the requirements and tasks of protecting the Fatherland and making an important contribution to socio-economic development, the Party Committee and the General Department of Defense Industry determined to focus on advising the Central Military Commission and the Ministry of National Defense to focus on building and developing the defense industry in the direction of autonomy, self-reliance, modernity and dual-use, becoming the spearhead of the national industry, achieving advanced and modern science and technology; having an appropriate organizational scale, management and operation mechanism, contributing to enhancing the potential and strength of the country's military and defense. In which, priority is given to modern, highly effective technologies, increasingly meeting the needs of ensuring weapons and technical equipment for the people's armed forces.

According to the leader of the General Department of Defense Industry, in the coming time, the unit will focus on prioritizing the effective application of basic technologies and achievements of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, taking "shortcuts and taking the lead" in a number of specific military technology fields to create a turning point in the design and manufacturing capacity of products with breakthrough tactical and technical features. Applying new, advanced, dual-use technologies, moving towards mastering basic technologies and core technologies in the research, testing, and production of weapons and technical equipment with high technology content...

Vietnam’s defense industry is clearly affirming its position, not only as a pillar of national defense and security but also as a strategic support for national industrial and technological development. With strong institutional support and in-depth investment in science, technology and human resources, the defense industry will continue to sow the seeds of innovation, playing a role in building a self-reliant foundation for the country in the new era - the era of strong, prosperous and civilized development of the country.

ECONOMIC - SOCIAL - DOMESTIC POLICY REPORTER GROUP

    Source: https://www.qdnd.vn/80-nam-cach-mang-thang-tam-va-quoc-khanh-2-9/cong-nghiep-quoc-phong-viet-nam-tu-chu-tu-luc-luong-dung-hien-dai-bai-3-day-nhanh-ung-dung-khoa-hoc-cong-nghe-841867