1st Surface to Air Missiles Brigade (Romania)

The 1st Surface to Air Missiles Brigade "General Nicolae Dăscălescu" (Romanian: 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][3] and a new battle flag. The main task of the 1st SAM Brigade is Bucharest's air defense.

1st Surface to Air Missiles Brigade "General Nicolae Dăscălescu"
Official emblem of the 1st SAM Brigade
Active1973–Present
CountryRomania
BranchRomanian Air Force
TypeAir defense
Sizeeight battalions
Garrison/HQChitila[1]
Commanders
Current
commander		Colonel Bogdan-Nicolae Istrate

The brigade's area of responsibility covers six counties. The unit currently operates MIM-23 Hawk missiles.[4] The 7th HAWK Battalion was equipped with the MIM-23 missiles since 2006.[2]

History

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 Brigade in 1998 after the Neva systems were retired. The current name was received on 1 September 2001.[2]

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.[2]

Structure
MIM-23 Hawk missile system.
  • 1st SAM Brigade - HQ in Chitila[5]
    • 111st SAM Battalion "Voievodul Mihai"[6]
    • 112nd SAM Battalion
    • 113rd SAM Battalion "Codrii Vlăsiei"
    • 114th SAM Battalion "Colonel Mircea Aelenei"
    • 5th SAM Battalion "Horea"
    • 6th SAM Battalion "Șoimii Bărăganului"
    • 7th HAWK Battalion[7]
    • 8th Technical Battalion

References
  1. "De veghe pentru un cer senin". presamil.ro (in Romanian). 2017-12-07.
  2. "Brigada 1 Rachete sol-aer". RoAF (in Romanian).
  3. "General Nicolae Dăscălescu". RoAF (in Romanian).
  4. Redactia Pro Patria și Studioul TV M-100 (28 May 2023). "Emisiunea Pro Patria din data de 28.05.2023". armed.mapn.ro (in Romanian).
  5. "DECRETE emise în anul 2018 de catre Președintele României" (in Romanian). 2018.
  6. "Ziua Eroilor, sărbătorită în orașul Titu". dbonline.ro (in Romanian). 2 June 2022.
  7. "Promo: Vis implinit pentru Batalionul 7 Hawk". Resboiu (in Romanian). 14 November 2012.
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