Helicopter Air Force

The Vietnam Helicopter Air Force currently has 3 military helicopter regiments (using Russian aircraft) located in the Air Force Divisions 370, 371, 372 of the Air Defense - Air Force Service and helicopters of the 18th Army Corps (Vietnam Helicopter Corporation) under the Ministry of National Defense .

In March 1956, the first group of Vietnamese cadres was sent to a friendly country to study aviation, including 30 people who went to the Soviet Union to study military transport (Li-2, Mi-4). In 1958, the Soviet Union (formerly) provided us with 5 transport aircraft, including 1 Mi-4 helicopter. In May 1959, the 919th Transport Air Force Regiment was established. Helicopters were managed by the 919th Regiment.

Không quân trực thăng- Ảnh 1. — Mi-6 helicopter picks up Mig fighter to evacuate

In 1960, a group of 67 officers and soldiers went to the Soviet Union to learn how to fly helicopters, preparing to establish a helicopter regiment. In 1964, the group returned home, but due to a lack of helicopters and equipment, the regiment was not yet established.

Không quân trực thăng- Ảnh 2. — Mi-6 helicopters carrying ground artillery supported the southern battlefield during the resistance war against America.

In 1965, Mi-6 helicopters were equipped for the Air Force. By early 1966, Regiment 919 had 14 Mi-4 crews and 7 Mi-6 crews. The helicopters' initial missions were to pull cranes, evacuate Mig aircraft from the airport and rescue pilots.

Không quân trực thăng- Ảnh 3. — Mi-6 helicopter lifts equipment to weld Nhat Trai dike (Luong Tai, Bac Ninh ) during flood season 1971

In late 1966, Mi-6 helicopters were tasked with transporting goods to the Northwest to serve the people and the campaign took place in Laos.

Then, the helicopter crew joined in carrying radar equipment to Thoi Mountain to set up an observation station west of Hanoi. The Le Dinh Ky crew and two other crews, while training, were tasked with hooking up oil pipelines, connecting from the Vietnam-China border 20 km inland.

Không quân trực thăng- Ảnh 4. — President Ho Chi Minh took a souvenir photo with the helicopter crew

During the war to liberate the South and reunify the country, helicopters were used to rescue downed pilots and transport delegations of officials for field inspections and research. During the Ho Chi Minh campaign, Mi-6 and Mi-8 helicopters actively participated in the airlift to support the South, taking over airports and transporting high-ranking leaders to work.

Không quân trực thăng- Ảnh 5. — Air Defense - Air Force officers and Mi-8 crew landed to take over Da Nang airport, 1975

917th Helicopter Regiment

In late 1975, the Ministry of Defense reorganized the air force units, including the helicopter air force.

On May 21, 1975, the 917th Helicopter Air Force Regiment was established with the mission of protecting the airspace and sea and islands in the South. At first, the 917th Regiment was stationed at Tan Son Nhat Airport, using captured aircraft and helicopters (L-19, U-17, UH-1, CH-47...). Currently, the 917th Regiment is stationed in Tra An Ward, Binh Thuy District, Can Tho City.

Không quân trực thăng- Ảnh 6. — Helicopters of Regiment 917 on duty in the Southwest sea

During the war to defend the Fatherland on the southwestern border, participating in the counter-attack campaign on the southwestern border and supporting activities on the Cambodian battlefield against the Khmer Rouge, the 917th Air Force Regiment participated in 253 battles, with 758 sorties and 1,286 flight hours; directly supported friendly units with 317 sorties and 325 flight hours; participated in transporting troops, weapons, medicine, and food with 25,804 sorties and 20,207 flight hours.

Không quân trực thăng- Ảnh 7. — The flight technical support force of Regiment 917 received the mission.

Currently, Regiment 917 is part of the combat formation of Air Division 370 with the central political mission of combat readiness and combat; flight training, ensuring flight safety; training pilots, pilot students and international pilot students.

In addition, the regiment also performs the tasks of flying special aircraft, transporting, searching and rescuing, preventing and fighting fires, and providing emergency aid when ordered within the scope of operations on land and at sea from the 13th parallel to the end of the Southwest region, Truong Sa archipelago and the southern continental shelf.

Không quân trực thăng- Ảnh 8. — Helicopter crew

916th Helicopter Regiment

On December 19, 1975, the 916th Helicopter Regiment (Ba Vi Air Force) was established on the basis of 10 Mi-6, Mi-8 helicopters and more than 10 flight crews of Battalions 4 and 5 of the 919th Transport Air Brigade.

Không quân trực thăng- Ảnh 9. — Armed helicopters of the 916th regiment

Over the past 49 years, the 916th Helicopter Regiment has overcome all difficulties and challenges, achieved many achievements in combat, served in combat to protect the southwestern and northern borders, and carried out international missions.

Không quân trực thăng- Ảnh 10. — Helicopters of Regiment 916 supply food to isolated flood-hit areas in Bao Lam District (Cao Bang), September 2024

In particular, Regiment 916 has successfully performed many important tasks assigned by the Party, State and Army such as: Combat training, combat readiness; flying special aircraft to transport leaders of the Party, State, Government, Ministry of National Defense on business trips; flying to serve parades and military parades to celebrate National Day 2.9 and important events; flying for search and rescue, flood and storm prevention; participating in forest fire fighting; flying drills with military regions, army corps, military branches, and arms... and being ready to perform other assigned sudden tasks.

Regiment 930

Regiment 930 was established on October 8, 1977, with the mission of combat training and combat readiness. On April 17, 1986, according to the decision of the Air Force Commander, the regiment ceased operations; its forces, aircraft, weapons and technical equipment were assigned to Regiments 916 and 917.

Không quân trực thăng- Ảnh 11. — Relief cargo drop from helicopter of Regiment 930

In 2013, in order to strengthen the strength of the Air Force - Navy, to meet the requirements of the task of protecting the Fatherland, protecting the sea and islands in the new situation, the Ministry of National Defense decided to upgrade Air Force Regiment 954 to Air Force Brigade 954 and hand it over to the Navy.

At the same time, the superiors established the 930th Air Regiment of the 372nd Division on the basis of part of the forces, aircraft, and equipment of the 954th Regiment.

Không quân trực thăng- Ảnh 12. — Air rescue practice, from military helicopters of Regiment 917

On July 3, 2013, at Da Nang airport, Regiment 930 held a ceremony to announce its re-establishment with the following missions: Flying observation, reconnaissance, directing targets in the air, on the ground, on the water, on the sea and islands, military transport in the Central - Central Highlands region; flying special aircraft; searching and rescuing, emergency rescue, preventing storms, floods, and natural disasters; performing combat missions on the Central - Central Highlands battlefield; training helicopter pilot trainees...

18th Corps

On April 20, 1979, Vietnam Helicopter Service Company was established. On March 11, 1985, the Oil and Gas Helicopter Service Company was established. In 2005, it was transferred from the Air Defense - Air Force to the Ministry of National Defense and in 2009, it was given the military designation of Corps 18 under the Ministry of National Defense.

Không quân trực thăng- Ảnh 13. — Helicopters of the 18th Corps landed on Truong Sa Island.

As a service unit, the helicopters of the 18th Corps operate in the following areas: Flying to serve oil and gas exploration and exploitation; flying to serve the program of searching for missing Americans (MIA); flying for tourism, sightseeing; flying to take photos of planning, cranes, emergency, rescue helicopters... and also flying to serve national security and defense such as: Transporting senior leaders - leaders of the Ministry of National Defense, first aid for wounded soldiers, search and rescue, transporting relief goods...