Russia has developed many weapons development programs methodically. Source: people.com.cn. New weapon development direction Russia launched the first version of the “Russian Weapons Development Program” in 2010 and version 2.0 in 2017. It is planned that version 3.0 will be released by the end of this year. According to Russian media, this program mainly provides follow-up information on the development of weapons and equipment of the Russian army, and is considered a “indicator” for the development of weapons and equipment in the country. . The 2010 version of the “Program” indicates that the Russian military will prioritize the development of nuclear and air defense as well as anti-missile forces, as well as the development of communication command systems and situational awareness. advanced. Under the guidance of this concept, the modernization level of the nuclear forces of the Russian army has been significantly improved, in which the Yars intercontinental ballistic missile regiment has been reorganized, centered The air defense and anti-missile group with the core of the S-400 gradually became the main air defense force. In addition, by 2015 the Russian Army had built a modern command and control system. Version 2.0 of the “Program” revised and supplemented the content of the previous version, proposing to “accelerate the upgrade and transformation of nuclear deterrence” and “ensure that weapons development and equipment of the Russian army in the leading position in the world, and modernization of conventional weapons accounts for more than 70%”. Speaking at a Defense Ministry meeting at the end of 2020, Russian Defense Minister Shoigu said that the Russian military-industrial complex has completed more than 97% of the research, development and production tasks in the “Chapter” program”, all the armed services of Russia have basically completed the goal of weapons procurement. The Russian Ministry of Defense is currently conducting research and preparing to launch the official 3.0 “Program” later this year. Russian media revealed that Moscow has focused on cutting-edge technologies and new concept weapons to ensure that it has a dominant position in the high-tech sector. According to reports, Russia is actively preparing a new version of the “Program” and has listed advanced weapons as the focus of development, with the intention of laying a solid foundation for weapons development, respond to increasingly complex security challenges. Weapons of the future In the new version of the “Program”, Russia will continue to promote the development of nuclear and conventional weapons, while focusing on research into artificial intelligence, robotics, hypersonic weapons and weapons. attack based on new physics principles. As of 2020, the modernization rate of the Russian army’s conventional weapons has reached 70.3%, and the modernization of the nuclear forces has reached 86%. According to the plan, the Russian services will continue to promote the modernization of weapons and equipment at a rate of 2% to 3% annually. Currently, in Russia’s hypersonic arsenal, in addition to the Avangard and Kinzhal missiles that have been put into operation, the Poseidon unmanned rolling device and the Zircon hypersonic cruise missile have also entered the test phase. Russia’s “torpedo” Poseidon scared the whole world. Source: people.com.cn. In addition, Russia recently revealed plans to design light vehicles carrying hypersonic munitions, such as glide bombs, and has continuously developed asymmetrical strategic balancing measures. In the next 10 years, heavy drones represented by “Altius” and “Hunter” will become the mainstay of Russia’s aerospace forces. Many new electronic warfare systems will also become the core of Russia. According to Russian military experts, the new “Program” will introduce “plans for the development of weapons and equipment in the complex climate of the Arctic”. Many difficulties await Some analysts believe that the new Russian version of the “Program” is promising, but will face certain difficulties in the implementation process. On the one hand, the modern technology of the Russian army still has shortcomings, which will be difficult to make up for in the long run, on the other hand, the defense budget of the Russian army is decreasing year by year, which is not suitable for the “stability and ongoing financial support” is suggested in the “Program”. In addition, under the technological blockade of the West, Russia is still struggling to research avionics components, liquid crystal displays, stealth materials and large-scale drones. . In fact, many new weapons and equipment, including the T-14 tank and the Su-57 fighter jet, were short on funding, causing the production time to be continuously extended. In addition, due to the influence of the budget and other strategic plans of the Russian military, there have been many adjustments, such as the program to build a new aircraft carrier.

The move comes nearly two months after the submarine KRI Nanggala sank off the island of Bali during training and China increased its activity near the Natunas. According to analysts, the frigate deal with Italy highlights Jakarta’s concerns after being “intruded into its territorial waters” by Beijing’s ships. An Indonesian navy ship leaves to rescue the sunken submarine Kri Nanggala. Photo: Xinhua News Agency SCMP cited a leaked document revealing that the Indonesian Defense Ministry is expected to propose a budget of 124 billion USD, to be divided over 5 years. This is three times more than five years earlier ($38.8 billion). At the same time, the website of Fincantieri Shipbuilding Company (Italy) confirmed that Jakarta has signed a contract to buy 6 new FREMM multi-purpose frigates and 2 used Italian MaStrale frigates. The two MaStrale ships will be delivered after the Italian navy retires them. “The agreement underscores the importance of strengthening cooperation between the two countries in the strategic Pacific region,” Fincantieri said. “The destroyer agreement shows that European countries are increasing their engagement in the Indo-Pacific region,” said Muhamad Haripin, a researcher at the Political Research Center of the Indonesian Academy of Sciences. European countries increasingly respond to the foreign policies of US President Joe Biden, against the rise of China in the region. According to Mr. Haripin, Indonesia is in need of more patrol boats to monitor the 54,000 km long coastline and vast waters. “Indonesia is concerned about China’s growing assertiveness in the Indo-Pacific region. It realizes that the rivalry between China and the US can affect regional stability but does not want to interfere. attend directly,” said Mr. Haripin. China claims to have fishing rights in the North Natuna waters and sends fishing boats and coast guard to the area, but Indonesia objected.

An employee scans and checks products in a Tiki warehouse in Ho Chi Minh City. (Photo: Bloomberg) Crossing the crowded streets of Ho Chi Minh City in a Honda, Ho Duc Quang carries toys, books and other packages to deliver to Tiki.vn customers. Quang, 25, needs to be quick, as Tiki promises to deliver in 2 hours. He uses AirPods to notify customers of his arrival, but there is one thing that slows down this shipper: Quang has to wait for customers to open the package, confirm the correct goods before departing for the next trip. It is a mandatory operation for those who do not trust online sellers. Quang’s speedy deliveries between the city of 9 million people are just part of a campaign to win over customers, many of whom shop online for the first time due to the pandemic. Winning isn’t easy where only about a third of adults have a bank account and less than 5% have a credit card. Most shopping at convenience stores, traditional markets. Although Euromonitor International estimates that e-commerce will only account for 3% of Vietnam’s retail market in 2020, the lowest in Southeast Asia, the potential of the market is extremely attractive. According to a report by Google, Temasek, Bain & Co, Vietnam’s digital economy is predicted to reach US$52 billion by 2025, an increase of 29% compared to 2020. Competition for customers Startups backed by Warburg Pincus, Goldman Sachs, JD.com or Shopee, Amazon are all targeting the Vietnamese middle class. From 2016 to the first half of 2020, investors poured $1.9 billion into the domestic online sector. Mr. Ralf Matthaes, Managing Director of Infocus Mekong Research, assessed that Vietnam is in the early stages of becoming a digital society with a young and technology-loving population. Therefore, these companies have to compete with each other to provide services. The government has set a target of online shopping to account for 10% of Vietnam’s retail sales by 2025. The regulator wants to reduce cash payments to create a more transparent, modern economy through increased non-payment of transactions. cash for public services and improve the regulatory framework for electronic payments. The consortium led by Alibaba and Baring Private Equity Asia will invest $400 million in exchange for a 5.5% stake in CrownX of Masan retail group. Under the agreement, Masan will cooperate with Lazada – Alibaba’s e-commerce platform in Southeast Asia. Kenny Ho, Southeast Asia Investment Director of Alibaba, affirmed that the combination of Alibaba’s online retail expertise, Lazada’s Vietnam platform, and Masan’s offline network will be a powerful catalyst for the company’s success. modernization of Vietnam’s retail market. In January, M-Service, the startup behind the Momo e-wallet, raised more than $100 million from an investment group, including Warburg Pincus. For the first time in their shopping life, Vietnamese people are “encircled” by the form of customer-first retailing that is common in developed economies. Trust of customers Online retailers are trying to woo shoppers wary of scam stores that don’t offer return policies. According to economist Nguyen Tri Hieu, “Vietnamese people don’t trust what they can’t see. Usually, they need to know what they’re buying. They have to smell it and touch it.” So e-commerce sites raced to launch marketing campaigns, offering discounts on everything from AirPods to Samsung washing machines. E-wallet startup that offers coupons. Tiki applies a refund policy of up to 30 days. Nguyen Thi Kim Chi, 31, who works for an entertainment website, said that 70% off and customer-oriented items attract her. Buyers are empowered to evaluate products and services online. If normal, they often have to go to the store complaining about the low quality of the product and there may be quarrels but nothing is corrected. According to Mr. Matthase, the epidemic will boost digital retail as 30% more Vietnamese will shop for everything from food to electronics online in 2020. Retail shifting According to Jeffrey Perlman, managing director of Warburg Pincus in Singapore, Vietnam’s retail market changes faster than other markets. Tiki is currently the largest domestic e-commerce platform in the country. Software engineer Tran Ngoc Thai Son built Tiki in 2010 from $5,000. Mr. Son writes code, buys 100 English books from Amazon, and delivers it by himself by motorbike. Currently, Tiki has 3,100 employees and a state-of-the-art logistics operations system overseen by Henry Low, former head of Amazon and Coupang. Along with the company’s growth is the effort to attract customers. Mr. Son deployed a system to filter counterfeit goods and sided with customers. For example, if there is a defect in a newly purchased phone, the customer wants to return it, they will support 100%. If the seller is not okay with this decision, Tiki will shut down their account. From diapers to beer According to Crunchbase, investors like Sumitomo, JD.com have invested $192.5 million in Tiki. Mr. Son anticipates more rounds of funding and prepares for an IPO. According to Mr. Low, Tiki handles less than 2 million orders per month. Employees busy arranging everything from diapers and diapers to Corona beer in the 10,000-square-foot fulfillment center. Tiki applies artificial intelligence and robots capable of transporting 800kg products to speed things up. Thanks to the logistics system, Mr. Son aims to transport 500,000 products in 2 hours, up from 200,000 currently, helping Tiki achieve its profit target. Du Lam (According to Bloomberg)

“However, it is still too early to announce the modernization of the Su-57”, said Major General Vladimir Popov, member of the Expert Council of the movement “Strong Russia”, Honored Military Pilot. launched and added, so far only 3 squadrons are flying this new generation fighter. “Here, we are most likely talking about the completion of the second-stage engines. By the end of the year they are expected to enter series production with characteristics that are true to the standards of the 5th generation aircraft.” “Today, the Su-57 flies on the AL-41F1S for 4+ generation fighters, despite its high maneuverability thanks to thrust vector control, a new engine has been produced for it, went through testing and the certification was practically passed,” Popov said in an interview with PolitExpert. The upgraded version of the Su-57 is most likely just a second-stage engine integration Now the central question regarding when to put the new engine into production is decided. Boris Popov suggests that Minister Manturov is most likely alluding to this when talking about the modernization of the Su-57. Phase two engines have been included in the project, but their creation is being delayed. “It has to do with economic issues at home and abroad, especially when Western rivals have come a long way. But now this period is over. We are completely independent. production, testing new engines and getting ready for mass production,” Major General Popov explained. “Currently in practice, operational experience is being gathered when the characteristics of the aircraft are confirmed,” emphasized Popov. “It’s not the test engineers that prepare the aircraft, but the technical staff who work directly in the unit. This is like another human quality. In this case, some nuances emerge, those New processes are being approved, parts or even systems are changing,” said the honorary pilot. “Two years have passed since these aircraft entered service with Air Force units. There have been a number of minor changes that need to be made to the structure. This is also a type of modernization for the Air Force. for the Su-57”, Major General Vladimir Popov concluded.

Engine problems caused China’s J-20 production to be delayed. Photo: SCMP The South China Morning Post (Hong Kong, China) reported that the country has developed a new coating material for the engine, contributing to solving technical flaws and increasing the thrust of the engine. The new coating material was designed by Yuanke Energy-saving and Environmental Technology Development Co., Ltd. in Hebei Province. This material can withstand temperatures of 1,800 degrees Celsius and helps protect the engine from the risk of corrosion while ensuring higher power. The current widely used military aircraft engine in China is the WS-10, which can withstand a temperature of about 1,470 degrees Celsius and the improvement can make a significant contribution to increasing the engine’s output power. . The propeller has long been considered the “Achilles heel” of China’s military aircraft engine development program. An obvious example is the delay in the development of a new engine that slows down the production of China’s fifth-generation stealth fighter J-20. Chinese scientists have spent years trying to get the WS-15 engine designed for the J-20 to work, but still have problems with the propellers that constantly heat up at high speeds. As a result, the Chinese Air Force is forced to use Russian-made engines or an improved version of the WS-10. Both of these engines are said to reduce the combat and stealth capabilities of the fighter. The new coating material consists of a fullerene, a ball-shaped carbon molecule. The manufacturer says the coating has a “2,000-hour lifespan” and is resistant to corrosion. The special thing is that this material can withstand the heat required for the J-20 to operate at its maximum capacity.

The information indicates that the enterprise has carried out major repairs and modernization for the Akatsiya complexes, improvements focused on suppressing and destroying enemy armored vehicles, including tanks and artillery. Komsomolskaya Pravda newspaper military observer, retired Colonel Viktor Baranets talked about the improvements Akatsiya received after the modernization process in an interview with PolitExpert reporter. Mr. Baranets noted that, first of all, all imported components were replaced, some of which came from NATO countries. After a few years, the Russian manufacturer has successfully installed domestic replacement parts of higher quality. Specifically, some details in the control system, aiming equipment, and communications. .. It is noteworthy that a new communication system has been installed, allowing the commander of the self-propelled artillery complex to communicate immediately with the officer of the battery. This can reduce the time it takes to prepare to shoot, which is extremely important, Mr. Baranets stressed. “After firing, quickly run away from your position, or you will get an answer in just 1 minute. Without upgrading the communication system, changing the deployment status will take time, this which generals, designers and scientists naturally understand. “We need an advanced fire control system that allows ‘fire and flight’, ensuring survival on the battlefield,” military expert Baranets explained to reporters. In the opinion of Mr. Baranets, the new Akatsiya chassis is characterized by high durability and reliability. In addition, adjustments have been made to the quality of the irradiation process. Although the caliber of the cannon remains the same as 152 mm, thanks to the improved ballistics, the range has increased to 25 km. In other words, the 2S3M self-propelled gun acquires new qualities, becoming much more powerful. Self-propelled gun 2S3 Akatsiya has been upgraded by Russia with outstanding power Colonel Baranets noted, although Akatsiya served in the Soviet Army nearly 50 years ago, it continues to be the backbone of the Russian Army. Thanks to its reliably ingenious design, it has undergone more than one modernization. It is no coincidence that today more than 30 countries use Russian self-propelled artillery. “A curious detail – after the fall of the Soviet Union, Americans walked through Russia like vacuum cleaners and bought all the interesting weapons, including the Akatsiya self-propelled howitzer, but its characteristics were low. half of our weapons,” Baranets said. According to the analyst, the Americans obtained these self-propelled guns even from the former Soviet republics and the countries of the Warsaw Pact. The United States expected to study the design features of Russian artillery, because they recognized their superior performance. Baranets believes that every Russian weapon, such as the Kalashnikov assault rifle, has endless modernization possibilities. Akatsiya will also have a similar story, as it has huge reserves for further improvement. The military observer concluded: “I think that in five years we will have a further improved self-propelled artillery, the shells of which will be more powerful and will run faster by itself.”

The remote operation success rate is over 99%. When an incident occurred, 81% of affected customers were immediately transferred and restored to power in less than 5 minutes (compared to 120 minutes of TCT’s regulation). The process of investment in development and modernization of the power system in Thu Duc City over the past years has shown that the reliability of power supply has improved significantly. Average number of outages per customer (SAIFI) is 1 time/year; the average outage time of a customer (SAIDI) is about 60 minutes/year – much lower than the 2015 index of 6 times/year and 700 minutes/year, respectively. With the motto “Electricity is one step ahead”, Ho Chi Minh City Electricity Corporation has a plan to prioritize investment in the development of the power system for Thu Duc City, focusing on developing smart grids in parallel with deploying other utilities. underground works. The goal is that by 2025, the electricity output supplied to the people of Thu Duc City will reach 5,500-6,500 kWh/person/year, the average number of power outages is less than 0.3 times/person/year and the average duration of power failure. less than 30 minutes/person/year. Mr. Pham Quoc Bao, Chairman of the Members’ Council of Ho Chi Minh City Electricity Corporation. In the period of 2021-2025, Ho Chi Minh City Electricity Corporation will invest about VND 3,200 billion to build a new 220 kV station and 6 110 kV stations (total added capacity is 1,382 MVA), develop 245 new stations km of medium voltage grid; 585 km of low voltage power grid, renovating and installing 447 distribution substations with a total capacity of 363 MVA in Thu Duc city. In this year, the corporation will complete Phuoc Long 110 kV station, start construction of new 110 kV Linh Dong station, 220/110 kV Thu Thiem station and 110 kV Thu Thiem station 1. In addition, the Ho Chi Minh City Electricity Corporation deployed 27 projects to undergroundize the power grid combined with information lines in Thu Duc city, in order to increase the undergroundization rate of the medium voltage grid from less than 50% at present to 75. -80% by 2025. With the motto “Customer is the center”, the electricity industry promotes digital transformation to improve the quality of electricity supply and customer service for the whole Ho Chi Minh City, including Thu Duc City. The focus is on promoting digital transformation in power system operation management and customer service provision in Ho Chi Minh City. The Corporation promotes the development of smart grids in Thu Duc city with the investment of a remote metering system, increasing automatic components on the power grid. Currently, the Corporation has basically completed the installation of distance meters in Thu Duc city. By the end of this year, 100% of medium voltage lines in Thu Duc city will operate fully automatically (DAS/DMS). In the period of 2021-2025, the corporation will continue to invest in strengthening remote control devices for medium voltage lines, along with solutions to close loops, and enhance the form of construction without power cut (live- line), in order to improve the flexibility of transmission, reduce the range and number of customers affected by power outages (if any). View of Thu Duc city. On the other hand, the corporation promotes the development of EVNHCMC Customer Care application (app) on the phone. The area of ​​Thu Duc district (old) has completed the installation of distance meters since 2020. Customers can monitor their daily electricity consumption through this application. All electrical services are provided online by the corporation. Customers do not have to go to the electricity headquarters to register, instead register for the service on the customer care website or via the app) EVNHCMC Customer Service of the corporation. In addition, TCT also promotes the application of 4.0 technology in surveying, designing and improving procedures to continue to improve the electricity access index, ensuring all investment projects through the medium voltage grid. 22 kV power supply for customers is carried out by the electricity industry within 5 days, contributing to attracting investment businesses in the city. “EVNHCMC prioritizes focusing resources, rapidly developing modern power systems in Thu Duc city, in order to ensure the power supply capacity to meet the city’s development needs, constantly improving the quality of electricity. electricity and customer service, contributing to building Thu Duc City into a new growth pole of Ho Chi Minh City, worthy of its potential and meeting the expectations of leaders and people”, Mr. Pham Quoc Bao positive.

Modernization plan The production of the Challenger 2 main tank began in 1994 and lasted until 2002. The tank was officially commissioned in 1998. Immediately after that, the search for a way to modernize the equipment. of Challenger 2 began to be implemented, but until recently, all the ideas were not developed, for various reasons. However, the basic reason for refusing to modernize the Challenger 2 tank was lack of finance. RBLS introduces the tank model of the Challenger 2 Life Extension Project project in 2019. At the end of 2015, the British Ministry of Defense launched the Challenger Life Extension Project 2 (LEP), to upgrade its existing tank fleet. The project was originally planned to follow a “small” modernization, focusing only on instrumentation. The project was then completed in 2019. However, in 2019, the LEP program was relaunched, with new requirements. Proposals are currently being made for a larger modernization, focusing on weapons systems, power plant complexes, turrets and other structures. In addition, the project also considers modifying the volume and cost of the modernization process. In 2019, the German-British joint venture Rheinmetall BAE Systems Land (RBSL) proposed the Challenger-2 modernization project. In September of the same year, the new experimental tank of the project appeared at an exhibition. Then the necessary tests are carried out, in order to determine the actual characteristics and compare with other competing development projects. As a result, RBSL’s project was recognized as the most successful and recommended for full-scale implementation. On May 7, 2021, the British Ministry of Defense announced the signing of a contract for the project. Some contents of the proposed modernization program have been reported in detail. Accordingly, the project will upgrade the Challenger-2 main tank into the Challenger 3 version. Main tank for the future Between 1994 and 2002, the British Army purchased 386 Challenger-2 tanks and 22 training vehicles. By 2010, the number of equipment in the lineup was reduced to 225 and has remained at that level to this day. According to previous plans, such a main tank force would be maintained until 2035. However, now the plan has been revised, regarding the Challenger 3 project. He started implementing the Challenger 2 Tank Life Extension Project since 2015. In March 2021, a new assessment of defense and security was published, which made a request to reduce the tank fleet. Accordingly, only 148 tanks will be used in the future and will be repaired and modernized. This allows them to remain in service until the 2040s. The remaining 77 vehicles will be retired from service. The new contract between the British Ministry of Defense and RBSL accepts this option and begins implementation. The main work of the Challenger 3 project will be carried out at the RBSL plant in Telford (UK). This project will provide 200 jobs, including 130 vacancies for engineers. Individual units will be provided by other companies, where another 450 jobs will be created. In the coming years, contractors will have to complete the project development and prepare the production line. The first tanks to be upgraded are scheduled to arrive in 2027. The last of 148 main battle tanks will return to service in 2030. The total cost of this modernization project, according to the contract. , would be £800 million (about £5.4 million/tank). The British Ministry of Defense highly appreciates the prospects of the new project. The country’s military expects the Challenger 3 to become a “world-class tank” and “NATO’s deadliest machine”. In addition, new weapons and other modern systems will allow the British Challenger-3 to surpass modern Russian main battle tanks. Comprehensive upgrade RBLS’s Challenger 3 project involves extensive modernization of the existing tank line, with the replacement of most major systems and equipment. As a result, the new tank will enhance mobility, increase protection, firepower and other important stats. In addition, the upgraded tank can function as part of a command combat system, along with a modern control system and easy data exchange. The main changes of the Challenger 3 project. During the upgrade process, the tank shell will receive new modular front armor. Its composition and properties are not specified, but the degree of protection is reported to be significantly increased. To replace the old tower, a new hood was developed with reinforced armor and the volume required to install new equipment. In the future, tanks will also receive active defense complexes. Challenger-3’s weapon system is equipped with a 120mm smoothbore gun Rheinmetall Rh 120 L55A1 manually loaded. Cannons can use a full range of existing and new ammunition for different purposes. In particular, the tank’s ammunition base will include new high-explosive fragmentation ammunition, with a DM11 programmable fuse. Additional weapons will include a remotely controlled machine gun combat module. RBSL intends to carry out a radical overhaul of the fire control system and other equipment on the tank. The lens system, control computer and other components of the tank will be selected new, without using the standard equipment of the Challenger 2. The fire control system will be combined with the associated vehicles. modern communication, providing the exchange of data on the tactical situation. Project outlook The Challenger 2 Life Extension Project (LEP) program has passed its first phase and is entering a new phase. In the coming years, the joint venture Rheinmetall BAE Systems Land and related companies will have to organize new content and kick-start work on a series of equipment modernization. According to the general plan, by 2030, the British army will completely renew its main tank force. Challenger 3 will be the main tank of the British army in the future. Due to a lack of funding, the British army could not afford to maintain a large tank fleet, and currently has only 225 main tanks. The modernization of all these equipment also becomes impossible and about a third of the tanks will have to be decommissioned due to lack of funds to restore. Besides, the increase in the capabilities of upgraded tanks is not only due to the benefit of new equipment and weapons. It is also based on the objective limitations and shortcomings of existing tanks. Accordingly, the Challenger-2 has not undergone a major upgrade and its characteristics remain at the level of the late 1990s. This fact led to the need to develop an entirely new combat unit. However, from a technical point of view, experts say that Rheinmetall BAE Systems Land’s Challenger 3 project seems quite successful. The proposed solutions are indeed capable of improving the technical characteristics and increasing the combat capabilities of existing tanks. In addition, all the necessary capabilities of a modern main tank are provided.

Modernization plan The production of the Challenger 2 main tank began in 1994 and lasted until 2002. The tank was officially commissioned in 1998. Immediately after that, the search for a way to modernize the equipment. of Challenger 2 began to be implemented, but until recently, all the ideas were not developed, for various reasons. However, the basic reason for refusing to modernize the Challenger 2 tank was lack of finance. RBLS introduces the tank model of the Challenger 2 Life Extension Project project in 2019. At the end of 2015, the British Ministry of Defense launched the Challenger Life Extension Project 2 (LEP), to upgrade its existing tank fleet. The project was originally planned to follow a “small” modernization, focusing only on instrumentation. The project was then completed in 2019. However, in 2019, the LEP program was relaunched, with new requirements. Proposals are currently being made for a larger modernization, focusing on weapons systems, power plant complexes, turrets and other structures. In addition, the project also considers modifying the volume and cost of the modernization process. In 2019, the German-British joint venture Rheinmetall BAE Systems Land (RBSL) proposed the Challenger-2 modernization project. In September of the same year, the new experimental tank of the project appeared at an exhibition. Then the necessary tests are carried out, in order to determine the actual characteristics and compare with other competing development projects. As a result, RBSL’s project was recognized as the most successful and recommended for full-scale implementation. On May 7, 2021, the British Ministry of Defense announced the signing of a contract for the project. Some contents of the proposed modernization program have been reported in detail. Accordingly, the project will upgrade the Challenger-2 main tank into the Challenger 3 version. Main tank for the future Between 1994 and 2002, the British Army purchased 386 Challenger-2 tanks and 22 training vehicles. By 2010, the number of equipment in the lineup was reduced to 225 and has remained at that level to this day. According to previous plans, such a main tank force would be maintained until 2035. However, now the plan has been revised, regarding the Challenger 3 project. He started implementing the Challenger 2 Tank Life Extension Project since 2015. In March 2021, a new assessment of defense and security was published, which included a request to reduce the tank fleet. Accordingly, only 148 tanks will be used in the future and will be repaired and modernized. This allows them to remain in service until the 2040s. The remaining 77 vehicles will be retired from service. The new contract between the British Ministry of Defense and RBSL accepts this option and begins implementation. The main work of the Challenger 3 project will be carried out at the RBSL plant in Telford (UK). This project will provide 200 jobs, including 130 vacancies for engineers. Individual units will be provided by other companies, where another 450 jobs will be created. In the coming years, contractors will have to complete the project development and prepare the production line. The first tanks to be upgraded are scheduled to arrive in 2027. The last of 148 main battle tanks will return to service in 2030. The total cost of this modernization project, according to the contract. , would be £800 million (about £5.4 million/tank). The British Ministry of Defense highly appreciates the prospects of the new project. The country’s military expects the Challenger 3 to become a “world-class tank” and “NATO’s deadliest machine”. In addition, new weapons and other modern systems will allow the British Challenger-3 to surpass modern Russian main battle tanks. Comprehensive upgrade RBLS’s Challenger 3 project involves extensive modernization of the existing tank line, with the replacement of most major systems and equipment. As a result, the new tank will enhance mobility, increase protection, firepower and other important stats. In addition, the upgraded tank can function as part of a command combat system, along with a modern control system and easy data exchange. The main changes of the Challenger 3 project. During the upgrade process, the tank shell will receive new modular front armor. Its composition and properties are not specified, but the degree of protection is reported to be significantly increased. To replace the old tower, a new hood was developed with reinforced armor and the volume required to install new equipment. In the future, tanks will also receive active defense complexes. Challenger-3’s weapon system is equipped with a 120mm smoothbore gun Rheinmetall Rh 120 L55A1 manually loaded. Cannons can use a full range of existing and new ammunition for different purposes. In particular, the tank’s ammunition base will include new high-explosive fragmentation ammunition, with a DM11 programmable fuse. Additional weapons will include a remotely controlled machine gun combat module. RBSL intends to carry out a radical overhaul of the fire control system and other equipment on the tank. The lens system, control computer and other components of the tank will be selected new, without using the standard equipment of the Challenger 2. The fire control system will be combined with the associated vehicles. modern communication, providing the exchange of data on the tactical situation. Project outlook The Challenger 2 Life Extension Project (LEP) program has passed its first phase and is entering a new phase. In the coming years, the joint venture Rheinmetall BAE Systems Land and related companies will have to organize new content and kick-start work on a series of equipment modernization. According to the general plan, by 2030, the British army will completely renew its main tank force. Challenger 3 will be the main tank of the British army in the future. Due to a lack of funding, the British army could not afford to maintain a large tank fleet, and currently has only 225 main tanks. The modernization of all these equipment also becomes impossible and about a third of the tanks will have to be decommissioned due to lack of funds to restore. Besides, the increase in the capabilities of the upgraded tank is not only due to the benefit of new equipment and weapons. It is also based on the objective limitations and shortcomings of existing tanks. Accordingly, the Challenger-2 has not undergone a major upgrade and its characteristics are still at the level of the late 1990s. This fact led to the urgent need to develop a completely new combat unit. However, from a technical point of view, experts say that Rheinmetall BAE Systems Land’s Challenger 3 project seems quite successful. The proposed solutions are indeed capable of improving the technical characteristics and increasing the combat capabilities of existing tanks. In addition, all the necessary capabilities of a modern main tank are provided.

In order to ensure the efficiency in the exploitation, processing and use of mineral resources, at the same time minimize the negative impacts of mineral mining and processing activities on the environment, dated December 4, 2008 , The Prime Minister issued Decision No. 159/2008 / QD-TTg approving the project “Innovating and modernizing technology in the mining industry to 2015, with a vision to 2025”, then, On February 22, 2017, the Prime Minister continued to issue Decision No. 259 / QD-TTg approving the project “Innovation and modernization of technology in the mining industry until 2025” (the Scheme). . The pigment factory has a capacity of 80,000 tons / year, designed by Vimluki and built in Binh Thuan province Founded in 1967 on the basis of separating from the Institute of General Design, currently the Institute of Mining Science and Technology (Vimluki) under the Ministry of Industry and Trade is one of the units researching, implementing science and technology and processing activities. Vietnam’s leading minerals in the mineral sector in general and metal minerals in particular. As soon as the project was implemented, under the close direction of the Department of Science and Technology (Ministry of Industry and Trade), the Institute has actively developed and proposed science and technology tasks to participate and always adhere to the criteria of the Project. During the process of participating in the Project, throughout the period 2008-2015, 2017-2020 and now 2021-2025, the science and technology tasks implemented by the Institute focus on solving, including: Research to introduce public technologies. exploiting, processing and making full use of main minerals and beneficial minerals in ore in order to maximize resources, improve economic efficiency of mineral extraction and processing and minimize waste causing environmental pollution. school; research into the exploitation, selection and recovery of rare and difficult minerals; research, propose technological solutions, offer recruitment equipment to improve the efficiency of the mining and processing process for mining enterprises … In addition to performing science and technology tasks using state budget, Vimluki has accompanied businesses, using capital from mineral mining and processing enterprises in the country to research and solve solutions. problems encountered in production activities, offering solutions and technologies to improve operational efficiency for businesses. Research results obtained from science and technology tasks have largely transformed into promoting the process of technological innovation and modernization in the mineral mining and processing industry. Binh Dinh titanium slag factory, Vimluki consulted on technology renovation and renovation Only in recent years, Vimluki has carried out hundreds of research projects to innovate technology, equipment, consult and develop mineral exploitation and processing projects; Science and technology consultancy works on setting up and developing new projects, improving equipment, transferring and training technologies for operating factories to improve economic efficiency for mineral mining and processing activities. of businesses, reducing resource losses and limiting waste sources, causing the risk of negative impacts on the environment. Growing with Industry and Trade With the rapid growth in both force and substance, in the past 55 years, Vimluki has participated in many large mineral mining and processing projects in Vietnam, contributing significantly to the innovation and modernization of technology. the mining industry in particular and the Industry and Trade sector in general. Specifically, the Institute has implemented technology design, design and construction of Quy Xa Iron Ore Mining Plant (Lao Cai) of Viet Trung Minerals and Metallurgy Co., Ltd. with a capacity of 1 million tons / year, stable production. plan to reach 100% of design capacity since 2014. At the same time, the Institute has consulted the company to use the tooth shaft beaters of MMD, UK, to solve the problem of congestion when using the Another type of crusher produced by Quy Xa iron ore is a limonite with a high natural moisture content. Next is the Sin Quyen copper ore flotation plant project No. 2 with the largest capacity of 1.4 million tons / year in Vietnam, this project performs the role of the general contractor for the design and construction of the plant, providing equipment. and technology transfer to the final product, the factory has been operating stably, reaching 100% of design capacity with technology targets reaching and exceeding the contract signed at the end of 2018, signed by the investor. Evaluation is one of the exemplary projects in terms of progress and quality. The Quy Xa – Lao Cai iron ore sorting plant Also in the project of the Rang Dong Group’s 36,000 tons / year super-fine mill mill project in Binh Thuan, built by the Design Institute, put into commercial production from 2019, the factory’s products are now. customers from Japan, UK, EU … appreciated and sold the products. From the above success, Rang Dong Group continues to assign the Institute to implement a project to design and build a pigment production complex (TiO2) with a capacity of 80,000 tons / year from titanium ores, this is a deep processing complex of ore. titanium in the first industrial scale in Vietnam, invested by Vietnamese enterprises and domestic science and technology staff in charge of construction design, factories using advanced European technology and equipment. ensure to produce high quality, stable products and minimize negative impacts on the environment. At the same time, the Institute also directly applied research results to produce a number of metal and alloy products to serve domestic demand and export such as iron and copper alloy products. aluminum for machine manufacturing industry and machine details, tin products (Sn) 99.99% Sn … The science and technology activities of the institutes in general, the Institute of Science and Technology of Mining – Metallurgy in particular in the framework of the project have gradually changed the perceptions of managers and enterprises in the industry. In the coming years, with the set objectives, the Project will continue to carry out science and technology activities towards further promoting the process of technology innovation and modernization in Vietnam’s mining industry. direction exploit and process minerals efficiently, make the fullest use of useful minerals in mines, economically exploit resources, research into synthetic use from beneficial minerals to wastes generated in the mining process. exploiting and processing to orient mining activities according to the circular economy model, in line with the policies of the Party and the Government.

PIA will provide Bamboo Airways with maintenance, repair and warranty services for aviation equipment … Professional partner Under the cooperation agreement, when becoming a strategic partner of Bamboo Airways, the Aviation Technical Service Center under PIA Group Joint Stock Company will provide Bamboo Airways with maintenance, repair and warranty services. aviation equipment such as maintenance, overhaul, and upgrade of aircraft equipment; supply of spare parts for aircraft and aircraft equipment; providing aircraft equipment rental services and special technical services of international standards. Along with that, the Center also provides technical training services to support human resources for Bamboo Airways as well as for other airlines; designing, manufacturing, replacing aircraft interior details and many other ancillary services. Regarding the selection of the Aviation Technical Service Center under PIA Group Joint Stock Company as a strategic partner, Bamboo Airways leaders said that the two sides have gone through a close working process, learning the capacity of the work in a far-reaching way. “Always putting safety and punctuality ratios on top, Bamboo Airways has very strict requirements for technical units. For the Aviation Technical Service Center of PIA Group Joint Stock Company, this is a maintenance facility with the most modern equipment system in the region. In particular, many stages have been automated to limit errors caused by human factors. Currently, in the field of aircraft equipment maintenance in Vietnam, there are few domestic units that have a serious and methodical investment like PIA ”, said Nguyen Ngoc Trong, Deputy General Director of Bamboo Airways. concentration. PIA meets very strict requirements from Bamboo Airways. Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Trong added that, in addition to being approved by the Vietnam Aviation Administration for the rating, the aircraft maintenance facility must pass the inspection process carried out by Bamboo Airways internally to assess the status of equipment. tools, human resources, inventory, … to ensure the provision of high quality services and to strictly comply with all strict requirements of the manufacturer as well as the authorities. In addition, partners must be available 24/7 to promptly process requests from the airline regardless of day and night, which helps to minimize waiting time to ensure the aircraft is operating in good technical condition. , fly on time. Long-term strategy fit Since its inception, Bamboo Airways has positioned itself as an airline towards 5-star standards. The strategic cooperation with PIA is in line with Bamboo Airways’ strategy of modernizing and professionalizing its fleet and flight operations team in the coming years. It is known that since cooperating with PIA, Bamboo Airways has been able to on-site maintenance of many equipment instead of sending abroad as before. In addition to saving direct costs, the turnaround time is also shortened, creating favorable conditions for the technical assurance of the fleet. Since cooperating with PIA, Bamboo Airways has been able to on-site maintenance of many equipment instead of sending them abroad. The field of aviation engineering in Vietnam still has a lot of room for development. In fact, many equipment is not too complicated but still have to be regularly sent abroad for maintenance, causing costly such as: in-flight kitchen equipment, entertainment equipment, float boats, slide troughs. , aircraft interior … Bamboo Airways expects PIA to continue to expand its capacity to repair and maintain many aircraft equipment in the future, thereby creating a solid foundation to accompany Bamboo Airways on its journey to become an airline. most reputable and safest aviation in the region and in the world. “With the right vision and serious investment, PIA Group aims to provide professional and professional aviation services. This is clearly shown in the slogan and also a criterion for all activities of the Group – Professional Aviation Services – Professional Aviation Services, ”said Doan Van Phuong – Chairman and CEO of Group Joint Stock Company. PIA said. PIA Group was established in 2013, headquartered in Hanoi. The Group includes many member units operating in multiple fields such as aviation, transportation, tourism, construction, real estate … In particular, the PIA Group’s aviation services include machinery maintenance. flight and aircraft equipment, ground services; supply of flying fuel, airline meals; freight; aviation agent; pilot training … Taking service quality as a guideline, putting the interests of customers as a priority in all activities, Aviation Technical Service Center in particular and PIA Group in general are constantly striving to provide optimal solutions. to best meet the needs of customers according to 3 criteria: Professionalism – Responsibility – Creativity. Along with that, the management team, technicians of the Center are recognized for having high professional expertise, years of experience in the industry and full capacity to ensure service quality according to the standards of the home. aviation authorities …

A corner of the urban area west of Hanoi. Photo: DUY LINH The 17th Hanoi City Party Committee has just issued the Program No. 03-CTr / TU on “Urban embellishment, urban development and urban economy in Hanoi in the period of 2021 – 2025”. The program identifies the goals of rapid and sustainable development of the Capital towards a green city, a smart and modern city; ensure the harmonious link between urban and rural areas. Notably, the program sets out the task of developing the urban economy, developing Hanoi into a major trade and economic center of the region and Asia. Build modern and synchronous infrastructure Program No. 03-CTr / TU on “Urban embellishment, urban development and urban economy of Hanoi in the period of 2021 – 2025” is built on the basis of inheritance and promotion of achieved results. Program No. 06-CTr / TU on “Synchronous development, gradual modernization of urban infrastructure, strengthening management of construction order, land, environment, building a civilized city, modernization period 2016 – 2020 ”. Noting the results achieved in the period 2016 – 2020, but the city also admits some limitations such as the low urbanization rate, the uneven urban development and the potential; the uniformity of the urban infrastructure system is not high; The renovation and reconstruction of the old apartment building still has many problems … This is the basis for the Hanoi City Party Committee to offer solutions and tasks to make breakthroughs in urban construction and development. the period of 2021 – 2025. The program aims to quickly and sustainably develop the Capital towards a green, smart and modern city; ensure the harmonious link between urban and rural areas; to raise the quality and efficiency of urban embellishment, development and modernization in association with the sustainable development of the urban economy; to build typical works, architectural and landscape architectural spaces with the characteristics of the Capital. Ensuring the sustainability of the urbanization process, solving challenging problems posed in the urban development process. To accomplish the above-mentioned goals, the program sets out key tasks, in which priority is given to reviewing and implementing synchronous plans; to enhance urban embellishment and modernization towards modernization and improve living quality; to synchronously and modernize and expand the scale of the system of urban infrastructures, increase the proportion of land funds for urban traffic, quickly develop road and urban railway transport infrastructure; green, smart, modern and sustainable urban development; investment in expanding urban areas and satellite urban areas; urban management strengthened; urban economic development; strive to build Hanoi by 2025 into a major trade and economic center of the country and the Southeast Asia region. The program has outlined six key solutions. First of all, building and perfecting the system of mechanisms and policies; bring into full play potentials and resources, attach special importance to investment for in-depth development, promote investment socialization; to speed up the implementation of urban infrastructure construction projects and works, urban embellishment and development; to step up administrative procedure reform and consolidate the apparatus; improve the quality of the contingent of cadres and civil servants to meet their tasks; enhance the application of science – technology in embellishment, urban development and urban economy … Expeditiously deploy the tasks The successful implementation of the Program No. 03-CTr / TU of Hanoi City Party Committee will determine the appearance of the city and the quality of life of the people in the coming time. Departments: Construction, Transport, Industry and Trade play a key role in implementation. Currently, the Department of Construction is assigned by the Hanoi City Party Committee as the Program Standing Committee. Director of the Hanoi Department of Construction Vo Nguyen Phong said that the Department is urgently coordinating departments, branches and units to advise and build plans of the City People’s Committee to soon implement the program from the beginning of the second quarter to 2021. Regarding specific jobs, the Department of Construction will focus on completing the housing development plan in the area in the period 2021 – 2025, with a vision to 2030, with emphasis on social housing; focus on renovating and embellishing urban areas, developing technical infrastructure, improving the quality of life of people; completing the construction of a specific framework and mechanism project to accelerate the renovation and reconstruction of the old apartment building; embellishment of valuable architectural works; Deploying underground electrical and telecommunications cables on 300 streets in the old town area … For transport development – one of the most important issues of the program, the tasks are very heavy, especially raising the proportion of traffic land in urban areas to about 12 to 15%; to complete the system of ring roads and radial axes; solve the problem of urban traffic congestion. According to Director of the Department of Transport of Hanoi Vu Van Vien, recently, the Department has proposed a list of important traffic works that need priority in the period of 2021 – 2025. In which, there are six urban railway projects. Marketing; five ring roads; nine big bridges crossing the Red and Duong rivers; five highway improvement projects connecting the capital with neighboring provinces. If implemented on schedule, the traffic situation in Hanoi will see many positive changes in the coming time. Ba Dinh, Hoan Kiem, Hai Ba Trung and Dong Da districts focus on the task of implementing six urban planning projects; towards the relaxation of the population, building more public works, renovating the old apartment building, focusing on building architectural planning management regulations; organizing the urban design of new open roads and some important roads … For district blocks, especially districts preparing to go to the district, they will promote the planning and construction of infrastructure to shape a modern city in the future.