Fighter jets drop heat traps over Ho Chi Minh City sky

Helicopter flying over the Independence Palace

At 7:44 a.m., three Yak130s took off from Bien Hoa airport and flew towards the center of Ho Chi Minh City.

7:46, the second Yak squadron set off.

7:50, two Su squadrons took off. The roar of the engines tore through the air, and the fighters soared into the sky.

At 8:05, the 10-helicopter squadron arrived in Ho Chi Minh City. Then the Yak and Su squadrons also rushed in amid the cheers of the people below.

Helicopters towing national flags fly across Dong Nai River and Ghenh Bridge

The weather was beautiful and sunny, the red flag with yellow star and the Party flag fluttering in the wind made the hearts of thousands of witnesses flutter. To have this moment of peace , independence and happiness for the people today is the history of the steadfast and indomitable struggle of many generations.

The sound of helicopters made people excited, not scared. It was something precious that cannot be described in words. At that moment, each person had a different emotion, and their eyes shone with pride.

More pleasing to the eyes and ears was the piercing screams of the Su-30MK2 and Yak130 fighter jets. The planes soared across the blue sky. After the hovering, the pilots performed a spectacular and brilliant heat trap drop.

Fighter jets drop heat traps in the sky of Ho Chi Minh City - Photo: CHAU TUAN

Technically, heat traps are a core part of electronic defense systems. Some missiles do not rely on radar but instead track and identify targets using the heat emitted by aircraft engines.

To deal with this danger, when the aircraft's warning system detects an approaching missile, the pilot will release a special heat trap (chatter bullet) to fool the missile. This will help the aircraft escape pursuit and be safe.

Fighter jets drop heat traps at show

Sukhoi fighters take off

Before that, from the early morning of April 30, all preparations of the helicopter and fighter squadrons were carried out very carefully and thoroughly, despite having flown in the field and trained many times. Most recently, there were preliminary and final rehearsals, but today was a particularly important day, requiring maximum perfection.

In the historic Ho Chi Minh Campaign 50 years ago, the "Determined Victory Squadron" attacked the last stronghold of the Saigon puppet regime, contributing to the liberation of the South and the unification of the country. 50 years later, the "steel birds" are flying in the peaceful sky without artillery shells or gunfire.

5:48, a fighter jet took off from Bien Hoa airport for a meteorological flight.

5:55, SU30MK meteorological aircraft appeared in the center of Ho Chi Minh City.