PANO - On October 13 at the National Shooting Range Region 3 in Dong Nai city, the whole-military Air Defense Agency opened the 2026 tactical and live-fire exercise for air defense forces in the southern region.

The opening ceremony was attended by leaders and commanders of air defense forces from Military Regions 5, 7 and 9, Army Corps 34, the Border Guard force, and Naval Regions 3, 4 and 5, as well as participating officers and soldiers.

During the exercise, participating units conducted tactical exercises, including receiving weapons, technical equipment and materiel, maneuvering to and occupying combat positions, deploying combat formations, making preparations for and conducting attacks against airborne targets.

In the live-fire phase, participating forces engaged aerial targets with 37mm and 57mm anti-aircraft artillery and 12.7mm anti-aircraft machine guns. The firing exercises were conducted both during the day and at night against various types of targets.

This year’s exercise features more demanding firing conditions. The speed, altitude and timing of target appearances are randomized, requiring crews to master their weapons and equipment, closely coordinate with one another, and accurately handle situations.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Major General Nguyen Xuan Thuy, Director of the Department of Army Air Defense under the Air Defense - Air Force Service and whole-military Air Defense Vice Chief, and Standing Deputy Head of the exercise steering committee, emphasized that the exercise, conducted under complex conditions, aims to improve the forces’ combat capabilities and ability to respond to various situations.

He requested participating units to improve night training, enhance rapid mobility, and master existing and upgraded weapons and technical equipment. They were also asked to step up the application of new technologies in training and combat readiness.

Meanwhile, grassroots-level people’s air defense forces were requested to consolidate their organization and improve the quality of training for air defense militia and self-defense forces and concurrent air defense forces, meeting on-the-spot mission requirements. Commanding staff and cadres at all levels must continuously improve their mettle, organizational and command capabilities, and ability to flexibly handle complex situations in the air.

The exercise is aimed at objectively assessing training results, combat readiness, organizational and command capabilities, coordination among forces, and the quality of weapons and technical equipment of the army air defense force and the people’s air defense force. It will also provide practical lessons for improving training and combat readiness quality, contributing to strengthening the integrated air defense posture and firmly safeguarding the Fatherland’s airspace.

Immediately after the opening ceremony, the participating units began a live-fire session with 12.7mm anti-aircraft machine guns.

Translated by Minh Anh