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The magic eye of the East Sea

Radar Station 44 on Phan Vinh (Pearson) Reef A in the Truong Sa (Spratly) Islands is looked upon as a “magic eye” of the East Sea which safeguards the sea and airspace of the country 24/7.
We were lucky to visit Radar Station 44 (T44) under Regiment 292, Division 377 of the Air and Air Defense Service, on Phan Vinh Reef A during a working trip of Brigade 146 under the Command of Naval Region 4 ahead of Tet (lunar new year festival).

“T44 is tasked to observe, detect and monitor targets appearing in the airspace of Truong Sa (Spratly Islands) all day. All data and parameters are recorded and reported to the mainland for processing for the protection of air sovereignty,” said Major Vu Van Vinh, head of the station.



 T44 is tasked to protect the airspace of Vietnam in the East Sea. 


The entire view of T44 on Phan Vinh Reef A.


The soldiers at T44 work in shifts around the clock.


T44 screens and immediately transmits any detected strange aircraft or objects in the air for processing.


T44 observes the entire airspace of the Spratly Islands in the East Sea within a radius of 300km. .


Screening targets on radar.


Searching for signals.


The soldiers' work at T44 is hard.


A soldier at Radar Station 44 observes the sea with TZK binoculars. 


Ready to 
handle any unexpected incidents.

T44 observes the entire airspace of the Spratly Islands in the East Sea within a radius of 300km. It will screen and immediately transmit any detected strange aircraft or objects in the air to the air defense service for processing.

Joining a drill at T44, we saw how hard the soldiers’ worked. Leaving the radar screen, their shirts were sweaty and their eyes were blurred due to a long time focusing on the screen in darkness.

Officers and soldiers at T44 work in shifts around the clock to readily handle any unexpected incidents, and to collaborate with units of other armed services to firmly protect the airspace, sea and islands of Vietnam.

 
By Thong Hai

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