International Defense Exhibition 2024, not just displaying weapons

Located on an area of ​​over 100,000 square meters at Gia Lam airport, the 2024 International Defense Exhibition has more than 400 booths, from more than 240 businesses and units, with thousands of products, from all military branches and arms. The number of products this time increased more than 20 times compared to the first exhibition in 2022. Many modern weapons and equipment "Made in Vietnam" were introduced for the first time, demonstrating the remarkable growth of the Army and the defense industry.

Viettel's booth at the Vietnam International Defense Exhibition 2024. (Photo: Ngoc Anh)

The Military Industry and Telecommunications Group (Viettel) alone displayed more than 80 types of high-tech products in 10 industries: Radar, optical-electronic equipment, electronic warfare, military information, simulation training, command and control, aerospace equipment, cyber warfare, cyber security... Including advanced types such as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV); reconnaissance and anti-UAV jamming complexes; integrated command automation systems according to the modern combat model C5ISR...

Along with that, many types of weapons in service have been overhauled, upgraded, increased their total service life, improved and successfully modernized by defense factories. One of them is the Su-27, Su-30MK2 fighter jets..., with more than 10,000 components. Vietnam is one of the few countries that have mastered the technology to overhaul these types of aircraft. That is the integration, automation and modernization of the VPK-57 anti-aircraft artillery system, improving the ability to fight low-altitude attack vehicles, UAVs...

The exhibition proves that the defense industry has mastered source technology, core technology, advanced technology, manufactured many products with features equivalent to or superior to foreign products, at reasonable prices, ensuring independence, autonomy, self-reliance, and self-strengthening; suitable for Vietnam's conditions and modern warfare; contributing to the country's economic development.

The products on display clearly demonstrate the defense and self-defense viewpoint of Vietnam's National Defense Strategy; the ability to manage and control the land, sea, airspace and cyberspace of the Fatherland. Vietnam's national strength is the combined strength in all fields, of the entire nation, the internal strength combined with the strength of the times.

In modern warfare, advanced weapons play an extremely important and indispensable role, but soldiers with strong political will, good combat skills, good techniques, mastery of technology, organization, and strict discipline are still the decisive factors, as President Ho Chi Minh's thought "people first, guns later" 80 years ago.

The 2024 International Defense Exhibition attracted high-ranking defense officials from many countries, including Defense Ministers, more than 40 international delegations, and major defense enterprises. Military powers such as Russia and the United States also brought products to display. In a short time, dozens of memorandums of understanding and defense industry cooperation agreements were signed. This is an international recognition of the potential, position, and prestige of the country, army, and defense industry of Vietnam.

In addition to the representatives of agencies and units of the entire army attending, millions of people watched the opening of the exhibition on television, there were also thousands of people, of many components and ages, even from distant provinces, coming to Hanoi to visit. The exhibition was opened for one more day, but it was not enough to satisfy. The bright, eager faces, showing interest and pride in the army and the defense industry, were vivid proof of the national defense of Vietnam.

The organizers were very sophisticated in the art program to welcome the opening of the 2024 International Defense Exhibition. We admired the singing and dancing performance of "Vietnamese Bamboo", Bac Ninh folk songs, gongs, Tay Nguyen dances, and then the drums and music of the Cham ethnic group... Folk songs from all over the country converged, soothing the space filled with steel and weapons. National culture is a source of strength for military art and Vietnam's national defense.

Art performance at the 2024 International Defense Exhibition on December 19. (Photo: Nguyen Hong)

The Vietnamese people always remember the song, “Although our life likes roses. The enemy forces us to hold guns…”. In peacetime, the country still devotes a part of its resources to producing weapons and equipment to help prevent risks and be ready to successfully deal with conflicts and wars, if they occur.

It is extremely meaningful that the 2024 International Defense Exhibition is held in Hanoi - the "city of peace", right at the time of the 80th anniversary of the founding of the heroic Vietnam People's Army (December 22, 1944 - December 22, 2024) and the 35th anniversary of the National Defense Day (December 22, 1989 - December 22, 2024). Here, at this moment, glorious history and a strong present converge, towards a bright future.

All affirm that the 2024 International Defense Exhibition is an important event, not only displaying weapons, but also containing important meanings and messages of the country, people and Army.