Throughout its history of development, combat, and growth, Air Defence Brigade 241 under Army Corps 12 has consistently upheld its proud tradition of “Assault and determination to win,” while continuously improving its overall quality and combat capability, thereby contributing to the firm protection of the Fatherland’s airspace.
Sixty years ago, on 19 May 1966, at Bach Mai Airfield (Hanoi), Anti-Aircraft Regiment 241, bearing the designation “Assault Unit” - now Air Defence Brigade 241 under Army Corps 12 - was established.
Just two months later, on 19 July 1966, the unit shot down a U.S. F-105 aircraft in Dong Anh, marking the beginning of its tradition of “Assault and determination to win.” Building on this initial victory, the unit went on to achieve a series of remarkable successes in major campaigns, including Khe Sanh (1968), Route 9 - Southern Laos (1971), Tri-Thien (1972), and the historic Ho Chi Minh Campaign, downing hundreds of enemy aircraft. These achievements contributed significantly to the Great Spring Victory of 1975, culminating in the complete liberation of the South and national reunification.
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| Leader of Army Corps 12 checks preparation work for training of the Brigade in 2026 |
In the subsequent period of national construction and defence, the Brigade has continued to uphold its tradition, successfully fulfilling all assigned tasks. Notably, in accordance with Decision No.6036/QĐ-BQP dated 22 November 2023 of the Minister of National Defence, the Brigade was transferred in its entirety to Army Corps 12 - the first “lean, compact, and strong” corps of the Army. This represents both a great honour and pride, while also imposing higher and more demanding requirements, particularly in the context of rapidly evolving air defence operations. In response to these demands, the Brigade Party Committee and Command have focused on leading and directing the comprehensive implementation of all aspects of work, promoting the tradition of “assault and determination to win,” and building a comprehensively strong, “exemplary and typical unit”, laying a solid foundation for enhancing overall quality and combat power to meet the requirements of the new period.
Firstly, to focus on building a politically strong Brigade as the foundation for enhancing determination, willpower, and readiness to act with initiative and achieve victory in all assigned missions. As an air defence unit, the combat readiness duty regime is highly stringent, demanding, and conducted at high intensity, requiring cadres and soldiers not only to master technical skills and operate equipment proficiently, but also to possess firm political resolve and psychological resilience under all circumstances. Accordingly, the Brigade consistently places emphasis on improving the quality of political and ideological education, particularly through the thorough implementation of Directive No.2423-CT/QUTW dated 9 November 2023 of the Standing Committee of the Central Military Commission on “Renewing and enhancing the quality of political education in the new period,” tailored to specific target groups and the unit’s mission characteristics. In practice, the Brigade regularly organises thematic political sessions prior to each mission and maintains structured democratic dialogue with all three categories of personnel (officers; non-commissioned officers and soldiers; and technical staff). It also effectively utilises cultural institutions and the model of “Military psychological and legal advisory teams” to promptly grasp, manage, and guide troops’ ideological mentality.
At the same time, due attention is given to building clean and strong Party organisations, continuously enhancing the leadership capacity and combat power of Party committees at all levels. Focus is placed on training and developing cadres and Party members, particularly key leaders, in line with the spirit of the “seven dare-to’s,” as well as the guiding principles of “two steadfast commitments, two accelerations, and two preventive measures,” and “five firmnesses.” Through these efforts, Party committees and organisations are built into genuine leadership nuclei and centres of unity within the unit. As a result of these practical and effective measures, in 2025, 100% of personnel met the required standards in political awareness assessments, with over 82% rated good or excellent. The political situation remains stable, internal unity and cohesion are maintained, and 100% of the Brigade’s cadres and soldiers demonstrate strong determination and readiness to undertake and successfully accomplish all assigned tasks.
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| The Brigade participated in the joint force exercise in 2024 |
Secondly, to improve the quality of training, and enhance combat readiness and operational capability to meet the requirements of operations under new conditions. Thoroughly grasping and implementing the superiors’ resolutions and directives - particularly Resolution No.33-NQ/ĐU dated 15 January 2024 of the Corps Party Committee on improving training quality for the period 2023-2030 and beyond - the Brigade has directed its agencies and units to develop and implement training plans in a rigorous, scientific manner, tailored to each phase and target group. Emphasis is placed on renewing training content and methods, improving the quality of cadre training and refresher courses, and upgrading training grounds and combat positions.
During training, the Brigade adheres closely to the principle of “basic, practical, and solid,” strictly maintaining training routines and regulations, while closely integrating technical training with tactical training and flexibly applying air defence operational art. Training is conducted at both individual and unit levels, with a strong focus on practical exercises. In particular, in response to the rapid development of modern aerial threats, especially unmanned aerial vehicles and cruise missiles, the Brigade places emphasis on training air surveillance under adverse weather conditions and in environments characterised by intense electronic warfare. Daytime proficiency is ensured, while the quality of night training is progressively improved, with training closely integrated with physical conditioning to enhance mobility, survivability, and force preservation. Concurrently, the Brigade proactively adjusts, supplements, and rehearses combat plans, focusing on complex, multi-target, multi-directional scenarios closely aligned with real combat conditions. It has developed a “scenario bank” and conducted drills associated with the concept of a “sustainable air defence umbrella.” Coordination with other forces, particularly radar stations, local armed forces, and local authorities, has been strengthened in information sharing, notification, and alerting, thereby enhancing early detection and rapid response capabilities to aerial threats.
To further improve combat readiness and operational capability, alongside strictly implementing the superiors’ regulations and guidance, especially Directive No.750/CL-TM dated 11 September 2021 of the Chief of the General Staff on handling air defence combat situations, the Brigade has proactively reviewed, supplemented, and refined its system of combat plans, coordination schemes, and contingency plans for air defence operations and disaster prevention and search and rescue in coordination with forces in the area. On this basis, it maintains strict combat readiness duty regimes, with a focus on duty teams at command posts at all levels, visual observation posts, and intelligence and surveillance information systems (B1, B2 networks). Emphasis is placed on effectively implementing the “four knows” in airspace management and the “four capabilities2” in handling combat situations. In addition, the Brigade actively coordinates with local party committees and authorities to strictly manage ultra-light aerial vehicles (such as paragliders and unmanned aerial devices), ensuring absolute safety of the assigned airspace.
As a result of these comprehensive and decisive measures, annual inspection results have consistently shown 100% of training content meeting requirements, with over 80% rated good or excellent; notably, specialised anti-aircraft artillery training has achieved excellent results. With these outstanding achievements, since 2021 the Brigade has consistently been a leading unit in the Corps’ Determination-to-win emulation movement and has been awarded the “Excellent Training Unit” Flag by the Minister of National Defence for five consecutive years.
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| Oath ceremony of new recruits in 2025 |
Thirdly, to promote regularity and discipline management, considering this as a solid foundation for enhancing overall quality and combat strength. On the basis of thoroughly implementing the resolutions and directives of the Central Military Commission, the Ministry of National Defence, and the superiors, the Brigade has focused on concretising them into programmes and plans tailored to its specific characteristics and missions. In particular, emphasis is placed on effectively implementing Directive No.79/CT-BQP dated 22 July 2022 of the Minister of National Defence on building comprehensively strong, “exemplary and typical” units and Circular No.143/2023/TT-BQP dated 27 December 2023 on regulations governing disciplinary measures in the Vietnam People’s Army, thereby creating clear improvements in both awareness and action among troops.
Given its dispersed deployment and the inherent challenges in management, the Brigade has proactively refined its system of regulations and rules, maintaining unified standards of order and discipline. At the same time, it has effectively organised competitions such as “Regularity, Democracy, Discipline, and Safety” and “Regulations, Order, Discipline, and Safety,” closely linked with the building of model comprehensively strong units. Throughout implementation, regularity construction efforts are closely combined with the grassroots democracy regulations, promoting the role of Party committees, commanders, and mass organisations in managing, educating, and training personnel.
In parallel, the Brigade has actively renewed working methods and styles towards greater scientific rigour and regularity; strictly maintained daily and weekly routines; and closely managed personnel strength, weapons and equipment, and the social relations of servicemembers. Particular emphasis is placed on promoting the exemplary role of cadres, especially key leaders, ensuring that “words are matched by actions.” Unit-level cadres effectively implement the principle of “living, eating, working, and sharing together,” thereby promptly identifying and resolving issues arising at the grassroots level.
As a result of the synchronised and resolute implementation of these measures, awareness and compliance with State law and military discipline among cadres and soldiers have been steadily enhanced. The Brigade has maintained absolute safety, with no serious violations, thereby creating a solid foundation for successfully and excellently accomplishing all assigned missions.
Finally, to ensure effective logistical and technical support, maintaining readiness for manoeuvre and mission execution under all conditions. Fully recognising that logistics and technical support are critical factors underpinning combat power, the Brigade Party Committee and Command have focused on leading and directing the synchronised and effective implementation of these areas, with emphasis on ensuring adequate and timely support for combat readiness and training missions. In logistics, the Brigade has actively promoted the emulation movement “The Military Logistics Sector follows President Ho Chi Minh’s teachings,” while strictly maintaining required levels of logistical reserves for combat readiness. Investment has been focused on upgrading and standardising dining halls, kitchens, and centralised food processing areas. Notably, through the expansion of self-sustained production, the Brigade has now achieved 100% self-sufficiency in green vegetables, pork, and poultry eggs.
In technical work, the Brigade has strictly implemented Campaign 50, focusing on ensuring synchronisation and the highest technical readiness coefficient for all tasks. It maintains strict regimes for inventory checks, preservation, and technical inspections, while proactively upgrading depots, stations, and workshops towards a more standardised and modern orientation. At the same time, the Brigade places particular emphasis on improving the professional competence of technical cadres and personnel, closely linked with promoting initiatives and technical innovation movements, thereby ensuring absolute safety of personnel, weapons, and equipment in all activities.
Building on the proud tradition of the heroic “Assault Unit,” cadres and soldiers of Air Defence Brigade 241 continue to strengthen unity, strive to further enhance overall quality and combat power, and remain determined to firmly manage and protect the Fatherland’s airspace under all circumstances.
Senior Colonel HA THANH SON, Brigade Commander