View source for 128 AD Missile Regiment

{{Infobox military unit
|unit_name=128 Air Defence Missile Regiment
|image=
|caption=
|dates= 1951 – present
|country={{flag icon|India}} [[India]]
|allegiance=India
|branch= [[File:Flag of Indian Army.svg|24px]] [[Indian Army]]
|type= [[Corps of Army Air Defence]]
|role=
|size= Regiment
|command_structure=
|equipment= [[Akash (missile)|Akash]] [[surface-to-air missile]]s<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ani/india-s-military-strength-cultural-diversity-at-display-during-71st-republic-day-parade-120012600440_1.html|title= India's military strength, cultural diversity at display during 71st Republic Day Parade|date= 2020-01-26|accessdate=2021-03-08}}</ref>
<!-- Commanders -->
|Past Commanders= 
|ceremonial_chief=
|colonel_of_the_regiment= 
|notable_commanders= 
<!-- Insignia -->
|identification_symbol=128 AD Msl Regt
|identification_symbol_label=Abbreviation
<!-- Culture and history -->
|nickname=Sky Gladiators 
|patron=
|motto= ''Sky high excellence''
|colors= Sky Blue and Red
|march=
|mascot=
|battles=
|anniversaries=
|decorations= 
|battle_honours= 
}}
[[File:H2019012662Akash Weapon system passes through the Rajpath, at the 70th Republic Day Celebrations, in New Delhi on January 26, 2019.378.jpg|thumb|305x305px|Akash missiles of 128 AD Missile Regt during the 2019 Republic Day parade|alt=|right]]
'''128 Air Defence Missile Regiment''' is an [[Air Defence]] regiment of the [[Indian Army]].

== Formation ==
The regiment was raised on 1 April 1951 as a [[Territorial Army (India)|territorial army]] regiment at [[Arakkonam]], Tamil Nadu. The first commanding officer was Lieutenant Colonel Atma Singh Pannu, MBE.<ref name="128APOCover">{{cite web|url= https://www.philamart.com/Listing/Details/3006419/128-Air-Defencen-RegimentIndian-Army-Postal-Cover-APO|title=128 AD-Diamond Jubilee Indian Army Postal Cover|date=2011-04-01|accessdate=2020-10-17}}</ref>

== History ==
At the time of its formation, the Regiment was equipped with [[Bofors 40 mm Automatic Gun L/60|Bofors 40 mm L-60]] anti-aircraft guns. The unit served at Arakkonam, [[Firozpur|Ferozepur]] and [[Madhopur, Punjab|Madhopur]].<ref name="128APOCover"/>

On 15 September 1973, the unit was converted into a regular air defence regiment.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/2001/20010410/punjab1.htm|title=Regiment celebrates golden jubilee|date=2001-04-09|access-date=2021-03-08}}</ref> It was equipped with [[Bofors 40 mm Automatic Gun L/70|L/70]] guns and SFM radar. It served in [[Mumbai|Bombay]], [[Udhampur]], [[Jamnagar]], Ferozepur, [[Srinagar]] and [[Surat]].<ref name="128APOCover"/>

The war cry of the regiment is ''Ek Sau Atthai Karo Chadhai, Ek Sau Atthai Do or Die''.

==Operations==
The regiment has taken part in the following operations-
*[[Indo-Pakistani War of 1965|Indo-Pak War (1965)]]: Operation Riddle- The regiment was the first Territorial Army unit to see action. It was deployed in the [[Jammu]] and [[Akhnoor]] area.<ref>{{cite book|last=Gulati|first=YB|title=History of the Regiment of Artillery, Indian Army|date=1972|publisher=Leo Cooper|isbn=978-0850521184|pages=278–280}}</ref>
*[[Indo-Pakistani War of 1971]]: Lance Havildar Kans Raj was awarded the [[Vir Chakra]] for shooting down a [[North American F-86 Sabre|F-86 Sabre]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://egazette.nic.in/WriteReadData/1972/O-1321-1972-0034-58847.pdf|title=Gazette of India, No 34, page 937|date=1972-08-19|access-date=2021-03-08}}</ref>
*Bombay Police Riots: 1982
*[[1984 Bhiwandi riot|Bhiwandi Thane Riots]]: 1984
*[[Operation Brasstacks|Operation Trident]]: 26 January 1987 to 15 April 1987.
*Operation Rakshak: 1987 to 1992
*[[Kargil War|Operation Vijay]]: 26 May 1999 to 31 October 1999.
*[[2001–02 India–Pakistan standoff|Operation Parakram]]: 17 December 2001 to 18 December 2002.
*[[Indian Army operations in Jammu and Kashmir|Operation Rakshak]]: July 2003 to July 2006.<ref name="128APOCover"/>

==Honours and Awards==
*The Regiment was awarded the Director General Army Air Defence's (DGAAD) unit appreciation award during its tenure in Srinagar for its use of air defence guns in direct firing role at the [[Line of Control|Line of Control (LoC)]].<ref name="128APOCover"/> 	
*In addition to the Vir Chakra won during the 1971 war, the regiment has been awarded 13 COAS Commendation Cards, 2 VCOAS Commendation Cards and 8 GOC-in-C Commendation Cards.<ref name="128APOCover"/><ref>{{cite web|url= https://indianarmy.nic.in/Site/FormTemplete/frmTempSimple.aspx?MnId=/35kznmMb9f+K7mJVrPkJg==&ParentID=urk65drbL4lr+yWheg3ZZw==|title= List Of Personnel Awarded The Chief Of Army Staff Commendation Card On The Eve Of Army Day 2007|date=|access-date=2021-03-08}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://indianarmy.nic.in/Site/FormTemplete/frmTempSimple.aspx?MnId=RnhRl7SDzqEtBVRo4YxOfA==&ParentID=Sd40n6/ZHFvub4es9dBHXQ==|title=COAS Commendation Card 2016|date=|access-date=2021-03-08}}</ref>
*The Regiment participated with its [[Akash (missile)|Akash]] [[surface-to-air missile]]s in the [[Delhi Republic Day parade|Republic Day parades]] of 2019, 2020 and 2022.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.aninews.in/news/national/general-news/indias-military-strength-cultural-diversity-at-display-during-71st-republic-day-parade20200126145952/|title=India's military strength, cultural diversity at display during 71st Republic Day Parade|date=2020-01-26|accessdate=2021-03-08}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{#seo:
|keywords=Military units and formations established in 1951, Air defence regiments of the Indian Army, Air defence units and formations
|description=
}}

[[Category:Military units and formations established in 1951]]
[[Category:Air defence regiments of the Indian Army]]
[[Category:Air defence units and formations]]