Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính meets with leaders of the Air Defence – Air Force on Tuesday. VNA/VNS Photo

HÀ NỘI — Emphasising the Air Defence – Air Force’s pivotal role as the frontline of Việt Nam’s national strategic defence, Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính urged the force to establish a comprehensive defence posture to safeguard the nation’s airspace, ensure air security and order, guarantee safe flight operations and enable smooth and secure conduct of economic, tourism and international trade activities.

He made the remarks on Tuesday while attending a ceremony in Hà Nội marking the 62nd founding anniversary of the Air Defence – Air Force (October 22, 1963 – October 22, 2025) and celebrating the force’s conferment of the title Hero of the People’s Armed Forces.

In his address, PM Chính commended and warmly praised generations of officers and soldiers for their remarkable feats and achievements over the past 62 years, and congratulated the force on receiving this noble distinction, one of the highest honours bestowed by the Party and the State.

According to the Prime Minister, the coming period will see increasingly complex global and regional developments, with a rising risk of modern warfare characterised by the use of high technology, smart weapons, unmanned aerial vehicles, electronic warfare and cyberspace operations.

Recent conflicts have shown that air and missile attacks are often the main spearhead of aggression. Therefore, the Air Defence – Air Force must truly stand at the forefront of our national strategic defence, he stressed.

PM Chính called on the force to continue serving effectively in the cause of building and defending the nation. He urged it to stay firmly in control of the situation, maintain strategic initiative and avoid any surprise or passivity in the air and other fronts.

He also encouraged the Air Defence – Air Force to take the lead in applying science and technology, fostering innovation, embracing digital transformation, and modernising its capabilities while upholding a spirit of vigilance and resilience.

PM Chính underscored the need for the force to continually modernise and enhance its readiness to defend the nation 'early and from afar.' He also urged the building of a strong and exemplary Party organisation within the force, emphasising human capacity as the core of strength and the preservation of its proud traditions as a revolutionary, disciplined, elite and modern service.

He requested that the Air Defence – Air Force continue to master situational awareness and provide strategic advice on military and defence affairs, particularly in combat readiness. The force should also work closely with the Central Military Commission and the Ministry of National Defence to strengthen people’s air defence and the overall air combat capacity of the entire army, forming a robust, extensive and unified defence posture.

PM Chính further directed the Air Defence – Air Force to study and draw lessons from past wars of national defence as well as recent global conflicts; to refine military theory and combat art; to innovate tactics, especially for the protection of national sovereignty over seas and islands; and to prepare for the challenges of high-tech warfare.

The Prime Minister urged breakthroughs in science, technology and digital transformation to enhance combat and management capacity, as well as the defence industry. He encouraged greater technological self-reliance through research, production and mastery of advanced, high-tech weaponry; integration of artificial intelligence and digital systems in command and combat; and the synchronised modernisation of weapon systems across the military.

Highlighting the importance of airspace management and protection, PM Chính called for strict supervision and control of all civil and military flights, both domestic and foreign, to ensure the safety of political, economic and defence centres.

He reiterated the need to accelerate the development of the 'Sustainable Air Defence Shield' project to maintain air security, ensure safe flight operations and support economic, tourism and international exchanges.

Finally, the Prime Minister reminded the force to continue fulfilling its role as both a working army and a production army. He urged it to actively participate in building a self-reliant and modern national aviation industry, developing aviation infrastructure and services, contributing to the aviation supply chain and promoting technology research, application and transfer.

The Air Defence – Air Force, he said, should enhance the efficiency of defence enterprises; continue to engage in humanitarian missions such as disaster relief, search and rescue and poverty reduction; and further strengthen international cooperation and exchanges, thereby enhancing the prestige and standing of both the service and the Việt Nam People’s Army. — VNS