CNQP&KT - Digital transformation is an inevitable development trend of the times. The Vietnamese defense industry needs to carry out digital transformation to change management and operation methods, business processes, production models, etc. to create new advances in research, manufacturing, and improving weapons and equipment, contributing to the modernization of the Army and becoming the spearhead of the national industry.
The Fourth Industrial Revolution (Industrial Revolution 4.0) is having a strong and comprehensive impact, bringing about higher development and greater challenges. Many new achievements in scientific and technological research (S&T) are being applied to production to create new generation weapons and technical equipment (VKTBKT) systems, with outstanding features, with a qualitative leap; thereby, creating new forms of war and methods of combat. In addition, the world and regional situation is changing rapidly, complicatedly and unpredictably, posing urgent requirements for the defense industry of countries, including Vietnam, to research and produce new types of VKTBKT, meeting the task of protecting national territory.
Faced with opportunities, challenges and requirements for the task of developing the country's economy and protecting the Fatherland, requiring adaptation to trends and taking advantage of the achievements of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, on September 27, 2019, the Politburo issued Resolution No. 52-NQ/TW on a number of policies and strategies to proactively participate in the Fourth Industrial Revolution, emphasizing the urgent need to accelerate the digital transformation process. On that basis, the Government issued an Action Program to implement Resolution No. 52-NQ/TW; the Prime Minister issued a Directive on promoting the development of digital technology in Vietnam and a Decision approving the "National Digital Transformation Program to 2025, with a vision to 2030"; The strategy for developing e-Government towards digital Government in the period of 2021-2025, with a vision to 2030. To meet the development requirements in the new period, digital transformation in military units in general, and in the construction and development of Vietnam's defense industry in particular, is a key and important factor, therefore, it is necessary to carry out step by step firmly.
In the new context, to promote the construction and development of Vietnam's defense industry in a proactive, self-reliant, modern and dual-purpose direction, becoming the spearhead of the national industry, actively contributing to the cause of industrialization and modernization of the country, the Politburo issued Resolution No. 08/NQTW dated January 26, 2022 on "Promoting the development of the defense industry to 2030 and the following years". The Resolution inherited and developed the directives and resolutions of the previous Party Central Committee and Politburo; at the same time, it determined the goal of developing the defense industry in the new period as: "Having the capacity to research, design, manufacture, and produce weapons and technical equipment with high technical and tactical features according to the requirements of equipping the people's armed forces, meeting the task of building a modern army". The 13th National Party Congress document also stated: "Build and develop a modern, dual-use defense and security industry that both meets the requirements of protecting the Fatherland and contributes significantly to socio-economic development; build and consolidate border, sea and island defense lines, with a mechanism to mobilize local and social resources for building defense and security potential in defense areas". Accordingly, build a modern defense industry with high levels of science and technology, capable of producing new types of weapons and technical equipment, new technologies, and digital technologies. "Respond promptly and effectively to non-traditional security threats, especially the tasks of rescue, disaster prevention, and epidemic prevention. Have plans to prevent the risks of war and conflict early and from afar".
Lieutenant General, Dr. Le Huy Vinh discussed with delegates at the Conference reporting on the Implementation Plan.
Along with that, the Industrial Revolution 4.0 with the development of advanced science and technology, digital technology, digital transformation has impacted all aspects of life, economy, society, national defense, security... Therefore, striving to create a breakthrough in the construction and development of the defense industry requires the gradual application of digital technology, digital transformation to research, manufacture, and production of high-tech equipment and technical means in a concentrated and specialized direction; linking research, design, and manufacture of new products with the improvement and repair of equipment and technical means and the production of dual-use products to serve the people. In particular, implementing digital transformation in the defense industry is a breakthrough and "key" factor.
Digital transformation in the construction and development of the defense industry is understood as the use of digital data and digital technology in management, operation, research, development, production, repair, improvement, and modernization of types of equipment and technical equipment to change the method of operating operations, business processes, etc. to improve the efficiency of performing tasks. Digital transformation activities are composed of digitizing business management data; applying digital technology to automate and optimize business processes, management processes, and work coordination to converting the entire model of applying science and technology to research, manufacture, and production of weapons, etc. The models and processes of research, manufacture, production, as well as improvement and repair in the stage of connection and information sharing require units and businesses to focus on investing heavily in initiatives, creativity, and innovation to achieve the standard of "digital unit"; as a driving force to enhance the vision and value of defense enterprises.
Digital transformation in the construction and development of defense industry is understood as the use of digital data and digital technology in all management, operation, research and development, production, repair, improvement, and modernization of all types of equipment and technical means to change the method of operating activities and business processes to improve the efficiency of performing tasks.
In the coming period, the task of building and defending the Fatherland places increasingly high demands on the Army in general and the defense industry in particular. This situation requires all levels, sectors, localities, agencies and units, especially the defense industry, to thoroughly grasp the viewpoints and policies of the Party and State on implementing digital transformation in building and developing the defense industry towards autonomy, self-reliance, modernity and dual-use. In particular, it is necessary to synchronously implement a number of the following basic orientations and solutions:
Firstly, thoroughly grasp and seriously and effectively implement the directives, resolutions, projects, programs and plans of the Party and the State, especially the Resolution of the 13th National Party Congress on digital transformation in the development of the defense industry. This is both an orientation and an important solution to proactively implement digital transformation in the construction and development of the defense industry in the new period.
The Industrial Revolution 4.0 and the implementation of digital transformation in the defense industry have increased the need to integrate and process data from many different sources, leading to new cooperation models in the value chain and lifecycle management of defense industry products. This will be a strategy for developing links between technology service providers, contributing to promoting the modernization of the defense industry. From there, creating a value chain, many new factors and new resources will appear, including service providers with high productivity and efficiency, data storage solutions, research, digital data analysis, digital platforms, digital technology model simulation, etc.
The General Department of Defense Industry organizes training on digital transformation for agencies and units under the General Department. Photo: TUAN MINH
Second, focus on researching and proposing to synchronously complete the system of legal documents on digital transformation in the development of the defense industry. Thoroughly grasp and implement the viewpoint of "strengthening the connection, transfer, digital transformation, and technology transformation between the civilian industry and the defense industry", creating a foundation for innovation in performing the tasks of the defense industry; Resolution No. 29-NQ/TW dated November 17, 2022 of the Politburo on continuing to promote industrialization and modernization of the country to 2030, with a vision to 2045 and the goal of Resolution No. 08-NQ/TW of the Politburo dated January 26, 2022 on "Promoting the development of the defense industry to 2030 and the following years", requiring the early development and promulgation of the Law on Defense Industry, Security and Industrial Mobilization, along with legal documents on digital transformation in the field of defense industry. In the immediate future, it is necessary to promptly research and promulgate regulations and sanctions on digital transformation in the defense industry and military trade promotion activities. Build a system of technical standards and regulations in the manufacturing and production of defense industry products.
Third, digital transformation in military technology development aims to create a strong change to develop the defense industry closely and become the spearhead of the national industry. Strengthening digital transformation for defense industry enterprises will bring great advantages, helping to increase labor productivity, efficiency in resource use, energy saving, and reduce production time to serve the maintenance and repair of machinery. Therefore, the digital transformation of defense industry enterprises will create a qualitative leap; at the same time, digitalization of technology with many applications of 4.0 technology such as 3D design, reverse engineering according to existing models, forming a close connection from creating new product design samples, simulating optimal products before putting them into mass production.
"Thoroughly grasp and implement the viewpoint of "strengthening linkage, transfer, digital transformation, and technology transformation between civil industry and defense industry", creating a foundation for innovation in performing the tasks of defense industry".
(Senior General, Dr. Le Huy Vinh)
Fourth, digital transformation in the production of dual-use products. Currently, the application of high-tech science and technology and digital technology to support the construction and development of the defense industry is increasing; many scientific and technological achievements are widely applied in the research, manufacture and production of high-tech equipment and technology. Implementing digital transformation in the construction and development of the defense industry will bring great benefits to defense production units to improve productivity and production efficiency. Digital transformation will create conditions for defense industry enterprises to save costs and expand investment scale in a number of areas to develop new products and products with high dual-use properties.
Fifth, strengthen international cooperation in the digital transformation process to develop the defense industry and improve the efficiency of production and consumption of dual-use products. This is both an orientation and a fundamental solution to improve the efficiency of building and developing the defense industry in the new period. Our Party clearly stated: "Shift the focus of foreign investment attraction and cooperation policies from quantity to quality; prioritize projects with modern technology; high technology and added value, modern governance models, spillover effects, and connections with the domestic economic sector". To build an increasingly modern defense industry, cooperation with foreign partners to accelerate the modernization process is an important solution. Besides, cooperation also helps us "take shortcuts" to new technology, advanced technology, and digital technology.
Our Party advocates promoting the development of the defense industry in a proactive, self-reliant, modern and dual-purpose direction, closely linked and becoming the spearhead of the national industry. Thus, building and developing the defense industry must both ensure the strengthening and consolidation of national defense and security and contribute to the cause of national construction and development. The defense industry needs to have a plan, roadmap, and solid, appropriate and effective steps to carry out digital transformation, fundamentally changing management and operation methods, production models, creating new advances in research and manufacturing, improving equipment and technology, rising to become the spearhead of the national industry; meeting the requirements of national defense and security tasks, building and protecting the Fatherland.
Lieutenant General, Dr. LE HUY VINH
Member of the Party Central Committee, Member of the Central Military Commission, Deputy Minister of National Defense
