Rejimen Artileri Diraja

The Rejimen Artileri DiRaja (Royal Artillery Regiment) is the artillery corps of the Malaysian Army. Rejimen Artileri DiRaja was formed in Kajang on 15 August 1957 when a single battery was formed, drawn from Malay personnel formerly serving with the British Army's Royal Regiment of Artillery. Today Rejimen Artileri DiRaja is a modern fighting arm providing direct fire support to Malaysian Army units using field artillery pieces and MLRS.

History

In 1957, an officer from Malaya Command was sent to Singapore to invite Malayan citizens serving with the 1st Singapore Artillery regiment to return home and serve with the Federation Artillery Battery. The drive succeeded in recruiting 89 personnel of 1 Singapore Artillery to return and serve with the Federation Army.

On 15 August 1957, the 1st Field Battery, Federation Army was formed in Kajang with the 89 members at the core. The battery was equipped with the British 25 pounder field gun and was commanded by Major Sherston Baker, Royal Artillery. On 16 July 1959, Capt N.T. Lopez succeeded Major M. Barkeley RA and became the first Malayan officer to assume command of the 1st Field Battery. [http://army.mod.gov.my/pasukan/rad.htm]

Colonel In Chief And Regimental Motto

H.R.H. Tuanku Al-Sultan Ismail Petra ibni Almarhum Al-Sultan Yahya Petra, the Sultan of Kelantan is the Colonel-In-chief of the Rejimen Artileri DiRaja (Royal Artillery Regiment). He was previously an honorary major in the regiment.

The regimental Motto is “TANGKAS TEGAS SAKSAMA”.

Role

The main role of Rejimen Artileri DiRaja is to provide direct and indirect artillery fire support in the fields of operations. The modern Rejimen Artileri DiRaja is equipped with a variety of equipment and fulfils a wide range of roles, including observation, Airborne Artillery, Armoured (Mechanised) Artillery, Long Range Missile Systems and Air defence. Regular units of the Rejimen Artileri DiRaja are complemented by members of the Askar Wataniah, which presently provide 5 Artillery Batteries.

Equipment

Rejimen Artileri DiRaja is equipped with Field Artillery pieces, Multiple Launched Rocket Launchers, Anti Aircraft Artillery and Air Defence Missiles. Presently the inventory of Rejimen Artileri DiRaja includes:

:18 X KERIS (ASTROS II) 300MM MLRS :28 X DENEL G5 MK 3 155 MM HOWITZER:15 X VSEL FH 70 155 MM HOWITZER:18 X SAKTI 105MM LIGHT GUN:200 X OTO MELARA 105 MM PACK HOWITZER:29 X GDF-005 OERLIKON 35 MM TWIN anti aircraft guns and 15 FCU Skyguard Radar Systems:36 X BOFORS 40 MM L70 anti aircraft guns

Field Artillery Regiments

Field Artillery Regiments are equipped with

:105mm Pack Howitzers with a range of 10000 meters, :155 mm FH 70 Field Artillery with a range of 24,000 meter:155 mm G5 MK III Field Artillery with a range of 39,000 meter.:ASTROS II Multiple Launched Rocket Launchers with a range of 89,000 meters:Field Artillery regiments are also equipped with the Arthur Artillery tracking radar.

Air Defence Artillery Regiments

Air Defence Artillery Regiments are either equipped with :

:radar guided anti aircraft artillery such as the Oerlikon 35 mm gun system :man portable Surface to Air missiles such as the Shorts Starburst, the Anza MK II and the Igla missile systems, with an effective slant range of 5,000 meters. :The BAe Jernas missile provides effective low level air defence within a slant radius of 8,000 meters.

Units

ASTROS MLRS

:51 Artileri Diraja based in the Peninsular

Planned Purchase of Medium Range SAM

AFP reported on Jul 20, 2004 from Kuala Lumpur quoting Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak that Malaysia has agreed in principle to purchase medium-range KS-1A missiles from China.

China will transfer technology on very short-range air defence to the country. The procurement would be made under the Ninth Malaysia Plan from 2006-2009, as announced during the signing of the memorandum of understanding for the purchase. China National Precision Machinery Import and Export Corp. would transfer technology on production of the FN-6 shoulder-launched missiles to Malaysia if it purchases its medium-range KS-1A missiles, Bernama said. This includes provisions for special test facilities, tools, manufacturing process document, training and technical support. [http://nucnews.net/nucnews/2004nn/0407nn/040720nn.htm#305] and [http://www.spacewar.com/2004/040720115308.mjyqr50c.html]

References

: [http://army.mod.gov.my/pasukan/rad.htm Malaysian Army Official Website] : [http://army.mod.gov.my/buletin_td/news_item.asp?NewsID=331 SLRB ASTROS II tonggak Rejimen Artileri Diraja at Buletin Army.Net, Malaysian Army Official Website] : [http://www.utusan.com.my/utusan/content.asp?y=2005&dt=0219&pub=Utusan_Malaysia&sec=Polis_%26_Tentera&pg=te_05.htm Utusan Online RAD sedia bantuan kuasa tembakan]