Under Decision No. 1558/QD-CTN, the President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam conferred the title “Hero of the People’s Armed Forces” on Le Thi Hang, Director of the C4 Center at the Viettel Aerospace Institute.

The decision recognises her exceptionally outstanding achievements in training, combat readiness, building the Vietnam People’s Army, strengthening national defence, and contributing to the cause of building socialism and protecting the Fatherland.

Speaking at the ceremony, Le Thi Hang said the honour is recognition from the Party, the State and the military not only for her personally, but also for the collective of scientific researchers who have quietly devoted their effort and intellect to the research, development and modernisation of weapons and equipment for the Vietnam People’s Army.

She said she shares this pride and the title with her comrades and colleagues at the Viettel Aerospace Institute, and with the engineers at the C4 Center who worked alongside her day and night in laboratories and on training grounds.

Together, she said, they overcame countless difficulties and challenges to turn ideas into reality.

“Those sleepless nights over drawings, those failed tests under the blazing sun and harsh winds on the training field... Without your unity, collective intelligence and discipline, modern weapons bearing the Vietnamese brand could not have taken shape,” she said.

She added that no matter how advanced a weapon may be, it is still only a tool, while the spirit of self-reliance, self-strengthening and Vietnamese intellect is the core of the strength that protects the Fatherland.

“The responsibility on my shoulders today does not stop at past achievements,” she said. “We must continue to innovate and master core technologies so that our military is always proactive in every situation.”

At the ceremony, Le Thi Hang sent a message to young people, young engineers and young officers.

She said the country needs “cool heads” in research and “warm hearts” for the nation’s destiny.

Military scientific research may be quiet and not noisy, she said, but each step forward is a brick in the wall that safeguards peace for the nation.

She urged them to step forward and create with all their national pride, adding that the Fatherland always values and remembers those willing to devote their intellect in service of the people.

Speaking at the event, Lieutenant General Tao Duc Thang, Chairman and CEO of Viettel Group, said that up to this point, Le Thi Hang is the only woman to be awarded the title “Hero of the People’s Armed Forces” in peacetime.

Lt. Col. Le Thi Hang (born in 1985) has recorded exceptionally outstanding achievements in research and development of weapons and equipment, contributing to the modernisation of the military.

Le Thi Hang and her teammates have reported on their work in researching, conquering and mastering core technologies, contributing to the development of Vietnam’s missile industry.

Missile technology is a highly specialised field, and any country that masters it can strengthen its military power as well as its readiness to fight and win.

Thai Khang