48 AD Regiment (India)

48 Air Defence Regiment
Active	1962 – present
Country	India
Allegiance	India
Branch	Indian Army
Type	Corps of Army Air Defence
Size	Regiment
Nickname(s)	“Sky Shooters”
Motto(s)	Sanskrit: आकाशे शत्रुन् जहि English: Defeat the Enemy in the Sky
Colors	Sky Blue and Red
Equipment	40 mm L/70
Insignia
Abbreviation	48 AD Regt

48 Air Defence Regiment is an Air Defence regiment of the Indian Army.

Formation

The regiment was raised on 1 May 1962 under the command of Lieutenant Colonel RTK Foregard as 48 Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment at Deolali. ^[1]

Equipment

At the time of its formation, the Regiment was equipped with Bofors 40 mm L-60 anti-aircraft guns. Conversion to 40 mm L/70 guns was started on 20 May 1972 and completed on 27 July 1973. The Upgraded Super Fledermaus (USFM) radar replaced the Super Fledermaus (SFM) radars in September 2000. ^[1]

Operations

The regiment has taken part in the following operations- ^[1]

• Indo-Pakistani War of 1965: The regiment took part in Operation Ablaze and Operation Savage in the Eastern Sector. It protected airfields and critical areas, including deployment over rafts over the Brahmaputra River.
• Indo-Pakistani War of 1971: The regiment served in both the Western and Eastern Sectors, covering a long period from 20 August 1971 to 12 March 1972. It protected many vital areas during this operation. ^{[2] [3] [4] [5]}
• Operation Trident: The regiment took part in this massive exercise in 1987.
• Operation Rakshak I: The regiment was involved in counter-insurgency roles in 1991.
• Operation Rakshak II: The regiment took part in counter-insurgency operations in the Kashmir Valley between 1995 and 1997.
• Operation Vijay: The regiment was actively involved between 26 May 1999 and 12 November 1999 in the Western desert.
• Operation Sahayata : The unit was deployed from 27 October 2001 to 5 November 2001 to aid the civilian authorities in the riot hit town of Malegaon
• Operation Parakram: The regiment was fully geared up during this operation between December 2001 and November 2002.
• Officers and men from the regiment have been deputed for anti-terrorist operations as part of Rashtriya Rifles. ^[6]

Honours and awards

• The regiment has won the following awards ^{[1] [7]} -
  • Param Vishisht Seva Medal – 1
  • Sena Medal – 4
  • Vishisht Seva Medal – 1
  • Mentioned in dispatches – 1
  • COAS Commendation Card – 4 ^{[8] [9]}
  • CIDS Commendation Card – 1
  • GOC-in-C Commendation Card – 18

References

1. "48 AD-Golden Jubilee Indian Army Postal Cover". 2012-05-01. Retrieved 2021-07-10.
2. Singh, Mandeep (2020). Anti-Aircraft Artillery in Combat, 1950–1972: Air Defence in the Jet Age. Pen and Sword Military. p. 129. ISBN   978-1526762085.
3. Gautam, PK (2006). Operation Bangladesh. Manas Publications. ISBN   978-8170492733.
4. Praval, KC (1985). The Red Eagles, a History of Fourth Division of India. Vision Books Pvt. Ltd. p. 363. ISBN   978-1851270705.
5. Jacob, JFR (2011). Surrender at Dacca: Birth of a Nation. Manohar Publishers and Distributors. ISBN   978-8173041891.
6. "Captain Atul Sharma" . Retrieved 2021-07-10.
7. "Honours and Awards" . Retrieved 2021-07-10.
8. "COAS Commendation Card 2010". 2010-01-15. Retrieved 2021-07-10.
9. "COAS Commendation Card 2016". 2016-01-15. Retrieved 2021-07-10.