Generations of officers and engineers of the Department have always promoted the tradition of "Solidarity, cooperation, resilience, overcoming difficulties, meticulousness and creativity", contributing to building a leading technical industry, firmly protecting the sky of the Fatherland.

During the war, the Air Defense Missile Corps achieved many resounding victories. Contributing to that overall achievement were the staff and engineers of the Missile Engineering Department - the silent force that ensured the equipment was always ready for combat. Lieutenant General, Hero of the People's Armed Forces Nguyen Van Phiet, former Deputy Commander of Politics of the Air Defense - Air Force once shared: "The staff and technicians of the Missile Engineering Department are always ready to move to the battlefield, coordinate repairs, and ensure the equipment operates stably and synchronously."

Missile Department officers check compressed air charging and ammunition parameters during the 2025 exercise.

Established on August 10, 1965, the Missile Engineering Department was born in the context of fierce war, to meet the technical requirements for air defense missile units. Missile battalions were widely dispersed in many localities, while material and technical conditions were still lacking. However, the officers and staff of the Department still closely followed their tasks, learned from foreign experts, accumulated practical experience, and promptly repaired equipment failures.

At the end of 1967, in the battles to protect Hanoi and Hai Phong, some launched missiles lost control due to the enemy using high-power interference to impact the missile's receiver slot. Faced with the complicated situation, the Department's officers and experts sought measures to increase the capacity and adjust the missile's response signal frequency to escape the interference frequency area. As a result, in the battle on January 10, 1968, Battalion 63 (Regiment 236, Division 361) destroyed the enemy's F-4 aircraft and captured the pilot. On February 11, 1968, Battalion 61 (Regiment 236, Division 361) shot down an enemy aircraft and captured the ALQ-71 jammer for research purposes. In December 1972, the Department's officers stayed on the battlefield, coordinated to improve combat equipment, and contributed to the victory of "Hanoi-Dien Bien Phu in the air".

Missile Department officers trained in technical assurance work for the air defense missile industry in 2024.

Entering the new phase, the Missile Department continues to be the core force in training and ensuring technical support for modern weapons and equipment. In the period 2020-2025, the Department coordinated technical support for 18 drills, synchronously repaired 4 production lines, and trained more than 200 technical staff. The Department chaired 1 state-level scientific project, participated in 3 state-level projects and many ministerial-level projects. Colonel Chu Van Chien, Head of the Missile Department, affirmed: "We pay special attention to political and ideological work, training moral qualities, building a disciplined system, scientific working style, and combat readiness. Officers and engineers are always aware of preserving and promoting traditions, constantly updating technology, mastering modern equipment, and meeting combat requirements in high-tech conditions."

Article and photos: NGUYEN VAN VUONG

    Source: https://www.qdnd.vn/nuoi-duong-van-hoa-bo-doi-cu-ho/phat-huy-truyen-thong-xay-dung-nganh-ky-thuat-ten-lua-hien-dai-839197