Unit Name: | 128 Air Defence Missile Regiment |
Dates: | 1951 – present |
Country: | India |
Allegiance: | India |
Branch: | Indian Army |
Type: | Air Defence |
Size: | Regiment |
Command Structure: | Western Command |
Equipment: | Akash surface-to-air missiles[1] |
Identification Symbol: | 128 AD Msl Regt |
Identification Symbol Label: | Abbreviation |
Nickname: | Sky Gladiators |
Motto: | Sky high excellence |
Colors: | Sky Blue and Red |
128 Air Defence Missile Regiment is an Air Defence regiment of the Indian Army.
The regiment was raised on 1 April 1951 as a territorial army regiment at Arakkonam, Tamil Nadu. The first commanding officer was Lieutenant Colonel Atma Singh Pannu, MBE.[2]
At the time of its formation, the regiment was equipped with Bofors 40 mm L-60 anti-aircraft guns. The unit served at Arakkonam, Ferozepur and Madhopur.[2]
On 15 September 1973, the unit was converted into a regular air defence regiment.[3] It was equipped with L/70 guns and SFM radar. It served in Bombay, Udhampur, Jamnagar, Ferozepur, Srinagar and Surat.[2]
The war cry of the regiment is Ek Sau Atthai Karo Chadhai, Ek Sau Atthai Do or Die.
On 31 March 2024, another test of Akash missiles were carried out successfully 128 AD Missile Regiment.[4] [5]
The regiment has taken part in the following operations-
Operation Riddle- The regiment was the first Territorial Army unit to see action. It was deployed in the Jammu and Akhnoor area.[6]
Lance Havildar Kans Raj was awarded the Vir Chakra for shooting down a F-86 Sabre.[7]
1984
26 January 1987 to 15 April 1987.
26 May 1999 to 31 October 1999.
17 December 2001 to 18 December 2002.
July 2003 to July 2006.[2]