AAD Celebrates 14th Raising Day

New Delhi, Jan 9 (UNI) The Corps of Army Air Defence (AAD) celebrates its 14th Raising Day tomorrow with traditional elan and affirmation of their resolve to defend the country's skies.

While the overall responsibility of air defence of the country is that of the Indian Air Force, it is executed jointly by the three Services. And in this joint endeavour AAD is tasked to perform the critical battlefield mission of preserving the combat power and freedom to maneouvre of our combat force as well as inflicting maximum destruction on enemy aircraft and helicopters.

It is also organised and equipped to provide close air defence to strategic key installions of the nation. The raising of the Corps is attributed to operational requirements and dynamics of modern warfare which necessitated the bifurcation of the Regiment of Artillery and raising of the Corps of Army Air Defence on January 10, 1994.

The effectiveness of AAD guns and missiles against aircraft in the combat zone has been amply demonstrated in recent conflicts. In the future, too, air defence of the combat zone will be a critical parameter in deciding the winner since a vibrant and effective air defence environment -- backed with low and medium level surveillance and automated control and reporting system -- is of the utmost importance.

AAD is a professional, motivated and trained force capable of meeting the challenges which may be posed by our adversaries in the air. To carry out the assigned task, the Air Defence units have been equipped with state-of-the-art radars, guns and missile systems.

In addition to the operational responsibility, Air Defence units are actively deployed in counter-insurgency operations in Jammu&Kashmir and elsewhere in the Army Northern Command.

The Army Air Defence units have to their credit three Military Crosses (MC), One Member of British Empire (MBE), One Order of British Empire (OBE), two Ashok Chakras, two Kirti Chakras, 21 Vir Chakras, seven Shaurya Chakras, 89 Sena Medals, four Battle Honours and seven Unit Citations for active operations in the Northern and Eastern Sectors.

UNI