At the 11th military 'Determined to win' Emulation Congress held on September 24, outstanding collectives and individuals presented reports on their emulation efforts.

Among the exemplary individuals was Armed Forces Hero and Lieutenant Colonel Hang, Director of C4 at Viettel Aerospace Institute.

Senior Lieutenant General Vo Minh Luong, Deputy Minister of Defense, highlighted that over the years, Hang (born 1985) has achieved exceptional results in researching and developing weapons and equipment, contributing to the modernization of the Army. 

In just five years, she received the Homeland Protection Medal, commendations from the Prime Minister and Minister of Defense, the title of Emulation Soldier, and numerous other awards.

In August, Hang was conferred the title of Armed Forces Hero of the Reform Era by the President.

Moving forward

At the congress, Hang reported on researching and mastering core technology, contributing to Vietnam’s missile industry. Her speech earned resounding applause from Party General Secretary To Lam and other delegates.

Hang noted that missile technology is a highly specialized field, and nations that master it can enhance their military’s strength and combat readiness. Therefore, missile production technology is guarded with the highest secrecy worldwide.

Hang recalled when the Viettel Group was assigned to research and develop a medium-range anti-ship missile. The “seeker”, or homing head, likened to the missile’s eyes, was one of the most challenging and complex components, determining the missile’s effectiveness and value.

Recognizing the critical role of this component and the task’s significance for the Army and the nation, Hang, volunteered to take on the role of an engineer in the guidance system project.

She said: “Starting with just seven people, we had almost nothing: no prior experience in missiles, no complete documentation, no research infrastructure, and no cooperation from foreign partners. The biggest challenge was that we didn’t even fully understand what a ‘seeker’ was.”

The team tackled two major problems. The first was understanding the operating principles and structure of the homing head. The second was developing a testing process that accurately reflected the missile’s operational environment to validate the homing head’s performance.

For the first problem, Hang and her team applied “reverse engineering,” simulating combat scenarios, developing hundreds of scenarios, and creating multiple prototype versions to gradually perfect the seeker head.

For the second, they devised a groundbreaking creative approach: building a test-firing chamber, the first of its kind in Southeast Asia. They also used canoes and aircraft to carry the seeker head to approach targets, instead of launching missiles for testing.

These innovative methods shortened research time and saved hundreds of billions of VND.

As long as there’s work and strength, we keep going

During prolonged sea trials, young engineers battled relentless seasickness but pushed through to complete their tasks.

In early flight tests, technicians were initially concerned about safety. However, with persistence, expertise, and determination, Viettel’s team convinced them to collaborate. Many flights required low altitudes, posing risks, but everyone was ready to face them.

In the early research phase, lacking equipment, the team found ways to adapt. Hang recalled developing immersion welding technology for aerospace applications. Without specialized equipment, they used a mini gas stove and an aluminum household pot.

In 2020, the product was approved by the Ministry of Defense, marking the first success in researching and developing a medium-range subsonic anti-ship missile for the Army. 

This achievement affirmed Vietnamese engineers’ ability to master advanced technology, marking a historic milestone as Vietnam independently researched, designed, and manufactured the seeker head, a complex component even some developed nations have yet to achieve.

To develop a missile line, developed nations generally often require no less than 10 years, while in just eight years Vietnamese officers and soldiers developed three guidance head product lines, and a height radar module for three anti-ship missiles, enabling missiles to fly close to the sea surface and resist electronic warfare.

Tran Thuong