Vietnam college establishes center to train UAV personnel

Photo courtesy of Tuoi Tre News

Sen. Lieut. Gen. Pham Truong Son, deputy chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People's Army, applauds at a ceremony marking the establishment of the UAV Training Center at the Air Force Officer College in Khanh Hoa Province, south-central Vietnam, August 4, 2026. Photo: H.D.

At the ceremony, the school announced a decision by the Ministry of National Defense to set up the UAV Training Center, a move reflecting the ministry's strategic vision of developing high-quality personnel and building a UAV force capable of meeting national defense requirements.

Key details

Speaking at the ceremony, Sen. Lieut. Gen. Pham Truong Son, deputy chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People's Army, called on the Party Committee and leadership of the Air Force Officer College to demonstrate strong determination to develop the center into a capable unit that can effectively fulfill its assigned missions.

He urged the center to quickly strengthen its personnel and equipment, finalize its organizational structure and command system, clearly assign responsibilities, and begin operations in line with its functions and duties.

The center should prioritize training officers, UAV operators and technical personnel to master the operation of the equipment, while combining theoretical knowledge with hands-on training and strictly observing safety regulations, he said.

Why it matters in Vietnam

A UAV is seen flying during a mission. Photo: H.D.

He also called for research into the use of UAV systems in warfare and the application of new technologies, as well as adequate technical and logistical support and proper storage and maintenance of equipment and technical assets.

In a related development, the Social and Cultural Affairs Office of Bau Bang Commune in Ho Chi Minh City, in coordination with Serviceaviationgeneral Co., Ltd., conducted a test flight of a UAV in the commune on Tuesday to develop a 3D mapping plan for local management.

The UAV scanned the area, captured images and collected data to create a 3D digital map, an orthophoto map and a digital spatial database.

The data is expected to support land-use planning, land management, infrastructure and environmental oversight, and digital governance while improving data accuracy and reducing survey times and costs.

5 August 2026