Attending the ceremony were Comrade Nguyen Trong Nghia, Politburo member, Secretary of the Party Central Committee, Head of the Central Propaganda and Education Commission; General Pham Van Tra, former Politburo member, former Minister of National Defense ; General Ngo Xuan Lich, former Politburo member, former Minister of National Defense.

Also attending were General Nguyen Tan Cuong, member of the Party Central Committee, member of the Central Military Commission, Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People's Army, Deputy Minister of National Defense; leaders and former leaders of the Ministry of National Defense, the General Staff of the Vietnam People's Army, the General Department of Politics of the Vietnam People's Army; and leaders of a number of central departments, ministries and branches.

Comrades: General Secretary To Lam, Secretary of the Central Military Commission; President Luong Cuong... sent congratulatory flower baskets.

Leaders of the Ministry of National Defense and the Air Defense - Air Force welcomed Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh.

After the Air Defense - Air Force Service was established (October 22, 1963), the Ministry of National Defense built and developed a three-service air defense force, with the Air Defense - Air Force Service as the core, forming a widespread and interconnected air defense combat posture. Under the conditions of "using the few to fight the many", "using the small to win the big", the Air Defense - Air Force Service focused on studying and firmly grasping the enemy, building unique and creative fighting methods for each force, especially fighting the enemy's B-52s, reconnaissance aircraft, tactical fighter aircraft, jamming aircraft and unmanned aircraft.

Along with that, the Air Defense - Air Force Service actively deployed training, drills and through combat activities to supplement and perfect the way of fighting, train troops, improve the level and mettle of officers and soldiers. With the spirit of daring to fight, knowing how to fight and determined to win, successfully ending the resistance war against the US to save the country, the Air Defense - Air Force Service shot down 2,635 aircraft out of a total of 4,181 US aircraft shot down by our army and people, including all the most modern types of the US Air Force, including 64 B-52s; 13 F-111s, destroying and capturing hundreds of enemy pilots.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and delegates at the ceremony.

Over the past years, the Air Defense - Air Force Service has received attention from the Party, the State, the Central Military Commission, and the Ministry of National Defense to build it straight towards modernization. The organization, staffing, and equipment have been adjusted in the direction of being lean, compact, and strong, with reasonable force arrangement; the overall quality and combat strength of the Service have been increasingly improved, meeting the requirements and tasks of protecting the Fatherland in the new situation.

With outstanding achievements and feats in construction, combat and development, the Air Defense - Air Force Service has 147 collectives and 150 individuals awarded the title of Hero of the People's Armed Forces, Hero of Labor, and many other noble awards; the Service was honored to welcome Uncle Ho to visit 17 times.

On behalf of the Party and State leaders, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh presented the title of Hero of the People's Armed Forces to the Air Defense - Air Force Service. Speaking at the ceremony, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh congratulated the Service's achievements and feats of arms in recent years and affirmed: After 62 years of building, fighting and growing, the Air Defense - Air Force Service has written golden pages of Vietnamese bravery, intelligence and mettle, contributing to the glorious tradition of the heroic Vietnam People's Army and the heroic Vietnamese nation.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh delivered a speech at the ceremony.

Emphasizing that the current context poses increasingly difficult, challenging and heavier tasks for the cause of building and defending the Fatherland, in which firmly protecting the airspace and sea is crucial, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh requested the Air Defense - Air Force Service to thoroughly grasp the directives and resolutions of the superiors on military and defense tasks, especially Resolution 44 dated November 24, 2023 on "Strategy for protecting the Fatherland in the new situation"; focus on building a clean and strong Party organization of the Service; improve fighting capacity, solidarity, unity of will and action; build a contingent of cadres at all levels with practical capacity and high professional qualifications, proficient in technical and tactical skills; have policies to attract, train and make use of talents, especially technical personnel.

Major General Vu Hong Son, Commander of the Air Defense - Air Force, read a speech at the ceremony.

Continue to advise the Central Military Commission and the Ministry of National Defense on strategies for building forces, people's air defense posture, and a widespread air force. Promote the role of the core force on the air front, always ready to fight and fight victoriously against any enemy invasion.

Research and summarize lessons learned from practical wars to defend the Fatherland and experiences in recent world wars, especially in major air defense campaigns, to apply in new conditions. Focus on researching and summarizing military theory, military art, practical combat experience, developing fighting and combat methods, especially in protecting sovereignty over seas and islands; responding to high-tech warfare. Promote modernization, enhance technological autonomy, research, production, and manufacture of high-tech, modern weapons and equipment. Improve repair capacity; promote the application of science and technology, artificial intelligence, and digitalization in management and operations.

Delegates attending the ceremony.

Ceremony scene.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh noted that the Air Defense - Air Force Service should innovate and improve the quality of practical training, close to the mission and the target of combat; master high-tech, modern weapons and equipment; and synchronously integrate weapons and equipment systems. Research and propose to the Party, State and Army to continue purchasing and supplementing modern weapons and technical equipment, meeting the requirements of the mission and suitable to the country's economic conditions.

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On behalf of the Party and State leaders, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh awarded the title of Hero of the People's Armed Forces to the Air Defense - Air Force Service.

Closely monitor and control all flight activities of civil and military aircraft, domestic and foreign; promptly detect and warn of airspace violations; protect the safety of political, economic and defense centers. Continue to do a good job of overcoming the consequences of natural disasters, search and rescue; strengthen and improve the effectiveness of defense diplomacy...

News and photos: SON BINH - TUAN HUY

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    Source: https://www.qdnd.vn/quoc-phong-an-ninh/tin-tuc/thu-tuong-pham-minh-chinh-trao-danh-hieu-anh-hung-luc-luong-vu-trang-nhan-dan-tang-quan-chung-phong-khong-khong-quan-887294