Abstract The paper addresses the implementation of vacuum switching devices in combination with digital monitoring and diagnostic systems as an integral component of modern high-voltage electrical networks. Particular attention is focused on the analysis of electrophysical switching processes in a vacuum environment, the structural features of contact assemblies, and the possibilities for integrating circuit breakers into hierarchical control systems in accordance with the Smart Grid concept. The principles of vacuum arc operation, the characteristics of dielectric strength recovery in the inter-contact gap, and the influence of contact materials on the stability of switching regimes are summarized. The architecture of modern monitoring systems based on the IEC 61850 standard is considered, including the use of electrical and thermal sensors, microprocessor-based controllers, and integration at the SCADA/industrial automation level. It is shown that the combination of vacuum circuit breakers with digital control tools ensures a reduction in fault localization time, an increase in equipment availability, and a decrease in operational risks. A generalized structural model of the “vacuum circuit breaker – digital control” system is proposed, suitable for application in 6–35 kV networks and, prospectively, in substations of the 110–220 kV class.