| Unit Name: | 1st Surface to Air Missiles Brigade "General Nicolae Dăscălescu" |
| Type: | Air defense |
| Branch: | Romanian Air Force |
| Dates: | 1973–Present |
| Country: | Romania |
| Size: | eight battalions |
| Current Commander: | Colonel Bogdan-Nicolae Istrate |
| Garrison: | Chitila[1] |
The 1st Surface to Air Missiles Brigade "General Nicolae Dăscălescu" (Romanian; Moldavian; Moldovan: Brigada 1 Rachete Sol-Aer), is the main air defense unit of the Romanian Air Force. Its headquarters are located in Chitila.[1] The brigade was created on August 1, 1973, by merging the 18th and 19th Mixed Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiments. In 1995, it received the honorific name "General Nicolae Dăscălescu", after the first commander of the 1st Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiment[2] and a new battle flag. The main task of the 1st SAM Brigade is Bucharest's air defense.
The brigade's area of responsibility covers six counties. The unit currently operates MIM-23 Hawk missiles.[3] The 7th HAWK Battalion was equipped with the MIM-23 missiles since 2006.[4]
The first surface-to-air missiles entered service with the Romanian Army in 1959. These equipped the 143rd and 261st Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiments (former 1st and 2nd Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiments). From 1973, the 18th and 19th Mixed Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiments were merged into the 1st Mixed Anti-aircraft Missile Brigade. The Brigade changed its name to the 1st Anti-Aircraft Missile Brigade in 1998 after the Neva systems were retired. The current name was received on 1 September 2001.[4]
In 2006, the HAWK Battalion was established, and the first shooting tests were performed in 2012. Also in 2012, the Brigade started taking part in the Air Police Combat Service.[4]