Viettel 'Warrior' on the defense industry front: From zero to world-class technologies

In 2010, Viettel officially entered the high-tech industry. After 14 years, this field has become a highlight of Viettel with the launch of a series of "Make in Vietnam" technology products, contributing to the country's defense potential.

Viettel's anti-UAV radar system at the Vietnam International Defense Exhibition 2024 - Photo: VGP/LN

From the determination to do, never retreat From the starting point as a rookie, Viettel still chose to develop advanced technologies that only a few military powers can master. That journey sometimes seemed like an impossible mission: Lack of experience, lack of reference models because no one in Vietnam had ever done it, technology secrets that no one wanted to share. "Viettel's leaders asked a series of pressing questions to the research group: 'Can we do the antenna part?', 'Can we do the receiving and transmitting part?', 'Can we do the signal processing part?'", Mr. Nguyen Vu Ha, General Director of Viettel High-Tech Industry Corporation, recalled the story in 2015 when Viettel was assigned by the late Minister of National Defense Phung Quang Thanh to research a coastal management radar system to equip the Navy. For the next 6 months, Viettel's engineering teams "sticked" to the coast continuously, broadcasting live while calibrating the product. Before the final product was completed, they designed 36 versions to find the best solution to meet all the requirements. Today, the coastal radar system created from those "rolling" days has been equipped in 5 Naval Regions, becoming "the eye guarding the sea border". And that is also the affirmation that Viettel people can do it, Mr. Nguyen Vu Ha said. Finding solutions to difficult problems to contribute to the country's defense potential has become a source of inspiration for the Viettel team. A series of other high-tech industrial products were also born like that: high-tech strategic weapons, radar systems, electronic warfare, simulation training... "We really appreciate Viettel engineers because they are eager to learn and not afraid of hardship. In the hot July sun, the Viettel team planned to work at the factory for 3 weeks, but taking advantage of the 2-week maintenance of the aircraft, the brothers were determined to complete the 3D scan of the entire aircraft. Seeing Viettel engineers working until night, then leaving early the next morning, we felt their efforts and desire", Major Nguyen Quang Thang, Deputy of the Technical Department of Regiment 927, recounted the process of Viettel engineers developing the Su-30MK2 aircraft simulation system. Up to now, Viettel has been researching and producing more than 50 types of products in 10 high-tech weapons and equipment industries to supply to the army. Viettel's product ecosystem is built according to the most modern C5ISR combat model in the world, including 4 functions: Collecting information, transmitting information and commands, processing information to support combat operations, and cyber warfare. In the process of product development, Viettel is steadfast in choosing to research and master the most advanced solutions in the world. With a creative approach and determination to solve the root of the problem, Viettel has been granted 116 patents in Vietnam and 29 patents in the US. Viettel is also honored to receive 2 Ho Chi Minh Awards for science and technology in the military and defense fields.

Modern combat products researched and produced by Viettel such as UAVs were first demonstrated at the Vietnam International Defense Exhibition 2024. Photo: VGP/LN

To world-class solutions Having flown in simulators of MIG 17 and MIG 21 fighter jets, then flown in a simulator cockpit of a Belgian F16 fighter jet and also flown in a Singaporean civil aviation aircraft simulator, when experiencing the SU30-MK2 flight command and pilot training system, Lieutenant General Pham Tuan, Hero of the Armed Forces, Hero of Labor, expressed: "I was really surprised when the plane started rolling onto the runway. Starting the engine, taking off and performing aerobatics in the air, the sky and everything rotated just like I was sitting in an aerobatic plane. That was my deepest feeling. This left me with an impression no different from the flight in the past. This system is not inferior to any product of advanced countries". Through mastering defense technology, Viettel benefits the army and the country with billions of dollars. A Viettel-made radar set with equivalent features can save 7 million USD compared to buying from a foreign partner, while the need for equipment for the army is up to hundreds of sets. Or the simulation equipment helps save hundreds of times compared to real training, while creating a similar training experience. Viettel's products also affirm that the Vietnamese defense industry can compete internationally. Viettel products represent Vietnam at the world's leading military exhibitions in Poland, Thailand (2023) and Malaysia (2024). In 2024, Viettel signed and contracted with Malaysia and the Philippines to export high-tech industrial equipment, radars and training simulation systems, worth millions of USD. Up to now, Viettel has not only completed the tasks assigned by the army, but also played a core role in the high-tech defense industry complex, pioneering the development of the latest technologies in the world. High-tech strategic weapons, developed by Viettel Aerospace Institute, are technologies that only a few countries in the world possess. The ability to master has helped Vietnam to be completely proactive in designing and manufacturing products, flexibly adjusting features, ensuring secrecy, suitable for military combat conditions and helping to save thousands of billions of VND for the State budget. "The successful research, manufacture and production of high-tech strategic weapons is a milestone of great significance for the Military Industry-Telecoms Group and the Vietnamese defense industry, a source of pride and a burning desire of the army and the entire Vietnamese people. This result has contributed to writing a new page in the history of Vietnam's defense industry, affirming the intellectual mettle, self-reliance and self-reliance of the army and the nation," President Luong Cuong assessed at the ceremony to award the title of Hero of the People's Armed Forces to Viettel Aerospace Institute on December 9. At the Vietnam International Defense Exhibition 2024 taking place from December 19-22, Viettel displayed more than 80 products and modules belonging to 10 technical equipment and weapons sectors for the military, such as high-tech weapons, communications equipment, radar, drones, electronic warfare systems, simulation model systems, cyber warfare systems... Source: https://baochinhphu.vn/chien-binh-viettel-tren-mat-tran-cong-nghiep-quoc-phong-tu-so-0-toi-nhung-cong-nghe-ngang-tam-the-gioi-102241219115209922.htm