Air Defense - Air Force receives the title of Hero of the People's Armed Forces

Also attending were Politburo member, Head of the Central Propaganda and Education Commission Nguyen Trong Nghia; Vice Chairman of the National Assembly Tran Quang Phuong; General Nguyen Tan Cuong - Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People's Army; leaders and former leaders of the Ministry of National Defense and representatives of central departments, ministries and branches.

General Secretary To Lam, President Luong Cuong, and Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh sent congratulatory flower baskets.

Photo caption — Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh pinned the title of Hero of the People's Armed Forces on the Victory Flag of the Air Defense - Air Force Service.

Speaking at the ceremony, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, on behalf of the Party and State leaders, expressed his deep gratitude to generations of officers and soldiers of the Air Defense - Air Force through the periods who fought and sacrificed for the independence and freedom of the Fatherland, for the peaceful life of the people.

After 62 years of building, fighting and growing, the Air Defense - Air Force has achieved many glorious feats, contributing significantly to the victory of the resistance war against the US, saving the country. Notably, in the "Hanoi - Dien Bien Phu in the air" campaign in December 1972, the Air Defense - Air Force shot down 81 US aircraft, including 34 B-52 "flying fortresses", creating a resounding victory, forcing the US empire to sign the Paris Agreement and withdraw its troops from Vietnam.

After the country's reunification, the force continued to participate in the fight to protect the border, carry out international missions to help the Cambodian people escape genocide; at the same time, it successfully completed the task of firmly protecting the Fatherland's sky in peacetime. With particularly outstanding achievements, the Service had 147 groups and 150 individuals awarded the title of Hero of the People's Armed Forces, Hero of Labor; thousands of groups and individuals were awarded various orders and medals.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh affirmed that throughout the heroic history of the Vietnam People's Army, the Air Defense - Air Force has always been one of the three main military branches, contributing to strategic victories, demonstrating Vietnamese intelligence and mettle.

Referring to the tasks in the new period, the Prime Minister requested the Army to develop its forces according to the motto "3 no's": No negligence, subjectivity, loss of vigilance; No arrogance, complacency with past achievements; No fear of any enemy, once in battle, victory.

The Prime Minister emphasized that the Army needs to continue building revolutionary, disciplined, elite, modern units, mastering high-tech weapons, developing the defense industry, promoting digital transformation and artificial intelligence in management and operations; improving the capacity to manage and control national airspace, and protecting the safety of important political, economic, and defense centers.

At the same time, the Service needs to provide strategic advice, build a "sustainable air defense dome", develop a widespread people's air defense force; actively participate in developing the national aviation industry, train high-quality human resources and perform well the work of search and rescue, and overcome the consequences of natural disasters.

The Prime Minister believes that with the tradition of "Going to war is victory", each officer and soldier of the Air Defense - Air Force will continue to promote the spirit of revolutionary attack, constantly strive and be creative, worthy of being the "Steel Shield" guarding the sky of the Fatherland, contributing to maintaining independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity, for the goal of "rich people, strong country, democracy, fairness, and civilization".

Source: https://baotintuc.vn/thoi-su/quan-chung-phong-khong-khong-quan-don-nhan-danh-hieu-anh-hung-luc-luong-vu-trang-nhan-dan-20251021120204704.htm