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. succeeded Major M. Barkeley RA was Major Rowe and on 1st January 1962 the 1st Regiment Federation Artillery was formed under Lt Col W E Black.

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:
 * Astros II MLRS
 * FH-70 155mm Towed Howitzer
 * OTO Melara Mod 56 105mm Pack Howitzer
 * Oerlikon 35 mm twin cannon (GDF-005 variant) and 15 FCU Skyguard Radar Systems
 * Bofors 40 mm (L70 variant)
 * G5 howitzer

Field Artillery Regiments
Field Artillery Regiments are equipped with
 * 105mm Pack Howitzers with a range of 10,500 meters,

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

 * Rejimen Pertama Artileri Diraja (PARA) based in Melacca
 * Rejimen Ke 2 Artileri Diraja based in Johor
 * Rejimen Ke 3 Artileri Diraja based in Perak
 * Rejimen Ke 4 Artileri Diraja based in Negeri Sembilan
 * Rejimen Ke 5 Artileri Diraja based in Kelantan
 * Rejimen ke 6 Artileri Diraja based in Sabah
 * Rejimen ke 7 Artileri Diraja based in Pahang
 * Rejimen ke 21 Artileri Diraja based in Negeri Sembilan
 * Rejimen ke 31 Artileri Diraja based in Kuala Lumpur
 * Rejimen ke 32 Artileri Diraja based in Melacca
 * Rejimen ke 33 Artileri Diraja based in Johor
 * Rejimen ke 34 Artileri Diraja based in Negeri Sembilan
 * 361 Bti Rejimen Artileri Diraja (PARA) based in Melacca
 * 41 Bti Rejimen Artileri Diraja based in Selangor
 * Rejimen ke 51 Artileri Diraja based in Negeri Sembilan
 * Rejimen ke 52 Artileri Diraja based in Perak
 * Rejimen ke 61 Artileri Diraja based in johor
 * Pusat Latihan Artileri(Artillery Training centre) based in Negeri sembilan

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.