Radar soldiers identify an airplane’s position to report to the steering station. VNA/VNS Photos Trọng Đức

HÀ NỘI At 0:15am on March 3, 1959, radar operators of Air Defence and Air Force’s Regiment 260 detected an aircraft of the enemy flying from the Việt Nam-Laos border to violate the sky west of Thanh Hóa Province.

This was the first victory by the Vietnamese radar soldiers, only two days after the radar force was established.

Over the past 65 years, the radar force has been an integral part of the Air Defence and Air Force and played a core role in managing and defending the country’s airspace.

On the night of February 15, 1964, radar operators of Regiment 290 discovered an enemy aircraft breaking into the north and promptly reported to the Air Force to shoot down the plane coded C-123 which was conducting enemy reconnaissance.

On August 5, 1964, the first air raid of the US Air Force in the north, with the code name "piercing arrow", was detected from afar by Regiments 290 and 291.

The radar operators timely and fully informed the air defence force about the raid, helping the force to shoot down eight planes.

These are the first glories in the history of Vietnamese radar soldiers, which always maintain their vigilance and take action early in response to the enemy’s raids.

The radar army was formed in the fire of war and became a reliable force. They protected key targets of our army in the war as well as strategic transportation.

Colonel Trần Văn Liên, former deputy commander, chief of staff of the Radar Army, said in the condition of limited equipment quantity and quality, the radar troops overcame difficulties to ensure that the air force and missile force launch their operations to defeat the enemy right from the first battle, on the first day.

The troop promptly notified local people's air defence to give early warning, evacuate residents, and maintain production during the war.

“During the 12-day-and-night Air Defence Campaign at the end of 1972, the radar troops accurately detected B-52s from afar and timely issued notification so that our troops were not surprised by the US strategic air raid campaign in Hà Nội, Hải Phòng and some northern provinces," he recalled.

According to the Air Defence and Air Force, during this period, the radar army helped the northern army and people shoot down 81 US aircraft, including 34 B-52s and other types.

"Over the past 65 years, the radar troops have fought heroically; the more they fight, the more they win, and the more they fight, the stronger they become and grow quickly. Every generation of radar officers and soldiers is brave, resilient, cunning and creative,” he said.

Today the force continues to fill their role as a key troop of the Air Defence and Air Force by closely coordinating with other forces to create a complete, closed information network throughout the entire national territory, improve surveillance capabilities, airspace management, meteorological reconnaissance and flight management.

Radar soldiers observe airplanes.

They are also responsible for drills, live firing and safety of the country’s important events.

To meet the strong development of science and technology, especially military science and technology, in recent years, the Air Defence and Air Force has been authorised by the Ministry of National Defence to upgrade and put into service advanced technical weapons and equipment.

The Air Defence and Air Force has purchased many new generation radars and successfully implemented research, design and manufacturing projects on radar generations to detect flying targets.

Lieutenant General Nguyễn Văn Hiền, commander of the Air Defence and Air Force, said to continue to firmly protect the sovereignty of the nation's airspace, especially in the context of increasingly complex and unpredictable developments of the global and regional situation, the radar soldiers, together with other forces in the army, will constantly heighten vigilance and continue to promote valuable lessons learned.

The troop is focusing on building a comprehensively strong radar force, paying attention to training and fostering high-quality human resources with an aim to build a contingent of officers and soldiers with steadfast stance, good professional qualifications and skills. They are expected to effectively use existing and newly equipped weapons, he said. VNS