Why are Vietnamese drones leading the world?

Vietnamese people create world-leading drones and an inspiring story of R&D, paving the way for Vietnam to join the ranks of core technology powers.

In 2022, the Hera drone from RtR (Real-time Robotics VN) solidified its position in the global drone market by mastering core technology with 12 features that significantly outperform existing drones.

In late 2024 and early 2025, Hera participated in flight tests in Alaska. On both occasions, Hera was the only drone to successfully complete all operational requirements under harsh conditions of wind and cold, ranging from -25°C to -30°C. Notably, Hera was invented and designed by Vietnamese engineers and manufactured in Vietnam.

Dr. Luong Viet Quoc - the "father" of the world's leading Vietnamese drone brand - had a conversation with Thanh Nien newspaper.

Dr. Luong Viet Quoc

PHOTO: PROVIDED BY THE SUBJECT

Mastering core technologies

* Following the success of the Hera drone, I heard you're preparing to launch another drone that's also "world-leading"?

We created the Omni Sight Gimbal. Around the world, a gimbal (a device that helps stabilize an image) can only carry one camera, has a limited field of view (360-degree horizontal scanning but not 360-degree vertical scanning due to the frame), and only provides stabilization, not intelligent stabilization.

Meanwhile, the Omni Sight Gimbal is like a chameleon's eye; each eye can rotate vertically and horizontally, providing 360-degree vision. It has a "brain" that can coordinate the two eyes, offering double the field of view compared to all existing gimbals.

The world's leading Hera drone was invented and designed by Vietnamese engineers and manufactured in Vietnam.

PHOTO: LAM YEN

Next up is the Sky Watch 360. This is the world's first continuously flying drone with four EO-IR cameras providing a 360-degree field of view.

These two products are very useful in search and rescue operations. For example, in Ha Long Bay, if a shipwreck occurs and you want to search for victims, visibility is limited while standing on the ship. If you can go up to a height of hundreds of meters, your visibility extends over 20 kilometers and covers 360 degrees.

In September 2025, Omni Sight and Sky Watch 360 will unveil their products at the Commercial UAV Expo in Las Vegas (one of the two largest annual exhibitions in North America).

Omni Sight, which utilizes patented dual-camera gimbal technology, will debut globally in the US in September.

PHOTO: PROVIDED BY THE SUBJECT

* Are you being subjective in claiming that your company, RtR, has the world's leading core drone technology?

Absolutely not, because everything is "quantified" through real-world testing. Specifically, the technology for manufacturing small drones (the most compact, with the highest lifting capacity, capable of carrying the most equipment, and the most versatile) was patented in Australia in 2024. The technology for manufacturing gimbals capable of carrying two cameras (currently, all gimbals in the world only carry one camera; the RtR gimbal can carry two, doubling the reconnaissance or data collection capabilities) and the technology for small drones carrying shoulder-fired missiles were patented in the United States in 2024.

RtR has filed 14 invention and patent applications in the US and Australia and has been granted 5 patents. The remaining patents will be granted in the near future.

Dr. Luong Viet Quoc discusses upcoming product with Vietnamese engineers.

PHOTO: LAM YEN

* You always emphasize mastering core technologies; could you elaborate on this?

Mastering core technologies requires two things. First, independent invention, design, and manufacturing. Second, a level of innovation that surpasses that of the rest of the world.

Fifteen to twenty years ago, mentioning China meant thinking of counterfeit and fake goods. Now, many Chinese brands are world leaders, such as DJI (leading in drones), BYD (leading in electric vehicles), and CATL (specializing in electric vehicle batteries worldwide)... All because they have made inventions that surpass the rest of the world.

Inventions and innovations account for approximately 60% of revenue. Assembly and processing only account for 3-4%, and adding components and hardware only brings the total to 40%. If Vietnamese businesses master core technologies and production processes, they could potentially capture 100% of this revenue.

Creativity is the only way.

* Resolution 57 of the Politburo at the end of 2024 mentions "breakthroughs in the development of science, technology, innovation, and national digital transformation." In your opinion, how should Vietnam realize this?

Vietnamese people are perfectly capable of creating innovative technical solutions and products that surpass those of the rest of the world. To achieve this, the only way is to invest heavily in R&D (research and development) to produce groundbreaking technological inventions. This is also the core spirit of Resolution 57: "Rising through technological innovation."

Vietnamese engineers are fully capable of inventing and designing world-class technological products.

PHOTO: LAM YEN

* Aren't you being a little too optimistic?

Our story may be rare, but it's proof that Vietnamese people can create products that surpass the rest of the world.

There are two issues here: Do Vietnamese businesses dare to choose the long-term (and also risky) path? And what policies does the government have to support R&D? Israel spends nearly 6% of its GDP on R&D, South Korea 4.9%, the US 3.5%, and China 2.4-2.7%.

With Resolution 57, Vietnam aims for a 2% growth rate, a fivefold increase from the current 0.4%. I think we are on the right track. If our country implements stronger institutional reforms, in the spirit of Resolution 66, and adopts favorable macroeconomic policies, Vietnamese businesses will be more confident in promoting R&D. We can learn from policies like those of Israel, China, and South Korea…

RtR Company's mechanical design team

PHOTO: LAM YEN

* Along with you, a team of Vietnamese engineers, entirely trained domestically, have created some of the world's leading drones. How do you assess the quality of "made in Vietnam" personnel?

From observation and experience at my company, I've found that young Vietnamese engineers are capable of inventing and transforming inventions into products. For example, with the Omni Sight Gimbal, the invention is just a principle, but to create the actual product, electronic and mechanical design are necessary. They are resilient and can work under high pressure. A common weakness is a lack of maximum effort to achieve perfection (this is very different from the Japanese).

* With so many groundbreaking inventions, are you happy?

I am happy to be doing what I love and making a positive impact on both society and my personal career. I hope that more and more Vietnamese companies will have world-class inventions, so that our country will become an innovative and powerful nation.

* If his daughter Vivian needed just one message from him, what would it be?

Just two words: gratitude. Gratitude is incredibly important; it's the first thing I teach my children. Gratitude leads to right actions.

Thank you, sir!

Strong will, diligent learning

Luong Viet Quoc holds a PhD in economics , not technology. However, with his ability to grasp information, he diligently self-studied to manage his team of young, talented engineers, exchange ideas with international experts and partners, and develop groundbreaking inventions in the drone industry (which have been granted global patents and inventions).

Perhaps partly due to his impoverished and impoverished background, Quoc possesses an intense will to live and a rare seriousness in both his work and his life. But above all, his most fervent and persistent desire is to prove that with the diligent learning of Vietnamese people and maximum investment in R&D, Vietnam's science and technology sector can also create world-class inventions and innovations.

Ms. Vu Kim Hanh , Director of the Business Research and Support Center - BSA.

Thanhnien.vn

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/vi-sao-drone-viet-dan-dau-the-gioi-185250829113029276.htm