16th Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery

Australian Army unit May 2023 16th Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery 16 AD Regt2.jpg A RBS-70 detachment training in 2001. 2 June 1969 – present Australia Australian Army Ground based air defence (GBAD), sense warn and locate, ground liaison, JTAC 10th Brigade Woodside, South Australia (current) RAAF Base Edinburgh (2025) Ubique Red over blue Sergeant Murray NASAMS, CEATAC and CEAOPS AESA radars Ubique First Commander Last Commander 70px Unit colour patch The 16th Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery is the Australian Army's only ground-based air defence (GBAD) unit. It also provides sense, warn and locate, ground liaison, and joint terminal attack control capabilities. Part of the Royal Regiment of Australian Artillery (RAA), the regiment is responsible for protecting a wide range of military assets during both wartime and peacetime, ranging from Army units in the field to providing point defence to the Royal Australian Navy's support ships and air defence to Royal Australian Air Force air bases. Prior to being equipped with the currently in-service RBS 70 surface-to-air missile system, the regiment was equipped with the Rapier systems for 25 years. The regiment is based at Woodside, South Australia, but frequently deploys with other Australian and allied units on operations and defence exercises. The regiment is part of the 10th Brigade. History The regiment has its genesis in the amalgamation of two previously independent batteries at Woodside Barracks in South Australia.https://aadaa.asn.au/Unit%20History.html 16 Air Defence Regiment History Australian Air Defence Artillery Association 13 September 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120710065727/http://aadaa.asn.au/Unit%20History.html 10 July 2012 dead On 2 June 1969, the 111th LAA Battery and 110th LAA Battery were grouped together to become the 16th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment.McEvoy 1986 224. The 111th had been raised in 1957 and had served in Malaysia during Confrontation during 1964–1966, while the 110th had been raised in 1965 and replaced the 111th in Malaysia in June 1966, but returned to Australia shortly afterwards after the conflict came to an end.McEvoy 1986 222–224. Upon formation, the regiment was initially equipped with the QF 40 mm Mark XII anti-aircraft gun and was placed under the command of Lieutenant Colonel D.J. Ashmore. During this time, the regiment deployed small numbers of personnel to operate the Bofors guns upon the landing craft of the Royal Australian Engineers' 32nd Small Ships Squadron during the Vietnam War. During 1971, the regiment experienced a manning shortage which resulted in the 110th Battery being placed in "suspended animation", as the regiment was only able to staff one battery. In 1973, the Bofors gun was replaced by the Redeye surface-to-air missile system. The 110th was re-raised in 1978 as the Army moved towards the purchase of a new surface-to-air missile system called the Rapier. At the same time the 111th was re-allocated to the 1st Division as a divisional air defence battery, although it remained under the regiment's command for administrative purposes. On 1 July 1978, the regiment was redesignated the 16th Air Defence Regiment.McEvoy 1986 227. In 1979–1980, the 110th Air Defence Battery also received the Rapier surface-to-air missile system. The following year, the regiment deployed the new capability in August during an exercise at Cultana with the first regimental firing taking place the following November at Beercroft. In 1984, the regiment undertook its largest exercise to that point, deploying to Darwin on 76 flat-bed trucks. The 111th Air Defence Battery replaced the Redeye with the RBS-70 surface-to-air missile system in 1987. Four years later, in 1991, the regiment deployed detachments aboard HMAS Success and Westralia as part of Australia's contribution to the Persian Gulf War. After the September 11 attacks, A Troop, 111th Air Defence Battery was deployed at short notice to embark on HMAS Kanimbla to provide air and surface defence of her operations in the Persian Gulf. In May 2003, the regiment again deployed a detachment in support of the Royal Australian Navy when a detachment was sent on board Kanimbla during the invasion of Iraq. In 2005, the 110th Air Defence Battery replaced Rapier with the RBS 70. The regiment committed air defence batteries to serve as infantry on Operation Astute on two occasions. In 2006, the regiment deployed the 111th Air Defence Battery to Timor Leste as Golf Company of the ANZAC Battle Group returning to Australia in mid 2007.http://www.defence.gov.au/opEx/global/opastute/images/gallery/20070410a/ Australian Operation in East Timor Department of Defence 3 September 2012 4 March 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160304124730/http://www.defence.gov.au/opEx/global/opastute/images/gallery/20070410a/ live Again in October 2008, the 110th Air Defence Battery was deployed as Golf Company, Timor Leste Battle Group Five, led by the 5th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment returning to Australia in June 2009.http://www.defence.gov.au/opex/global/opastute/index.htm Operation Astute Department of Defence 25 April 2009 17 August 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20080817134324/http://www.defence.gov.au/opEx/global/opastute/index.htm live On 9 December 2011, the 16th Air Defence Regiment was amalgamated with the 1st Ground Liaison Group to form the 16th Air Land Regiment.Hetherington Andrew Tying air and land together http://digital.realviewtechnologies.com/default.aspx?xml=defencenews_army.xml 4 February 2012 Army News 1274 2 February 2012 Australian Department of Defence Canberra 24 15 July 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20110715162441/http://digital.realviewtechnologies.com/default.aspx?xml=defencenews_army.xml live thumb|A RBS-70 team in July 2011 On 1 March 2010, the 16th Air Defence Regiment became part of the re-raised 6th Brigade.http://digital.realviewtechnologies.com/default.aspx?xml=defencenews_army.xml Key to Adaptability Gaze Jillian 18 March 2010 Australian Department of Defence Army News 1231 Canberra 20 March 2010 15 July 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20110715162441/http://digital.realviewtechnologies.com/default.aspx?xml=defencenews_army.xml live Later in December 2010 the unit deployed a contingent on Operation Slipper in Afghanistan, to man a Counter Rocket, Artillery, and Mortar system at the Multi National Base, Tarin Kot, once Australian forces assumed this responsibility from the Dutch. In 2012, GIRAFFE radars were also deployed.Asia: New radar system for Afghan base Australian Associated Press Sydney, New South Wales 11 June 2012 The majority of Australian forces withdrew from the Multi National Base Tarin Kot in December 2013.http://www.abc.net.au/news/2010-10-19/timeline-australian-involvement-in-afghanistan/2302702 Timeline: Australian involvement in Afghanistan ABC News 16 December 2013 Australia 4 September 2017 14 June 2017 https://web.archive.org/web/20170614070334/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2010-10-19/timeline-australian-involvement-in-afghanistan/2302702 live In July 2016, it was announced that C-RAM would be deployed to support Task Group Taji in Iraq.http://www.australiandefence.com.au/news/adf-steps-up-iraq-training-and-counter-daesh-effort ADF steps up Iraq training and counter Daesh effort 21 July 2016 Australian Defence Magazine 4 September 2017 4 September 2017 https://web.archive.org/web/20170904153923/http://www.australiandefence.com.au/news/adf-steps-up-iraq-training-and-counter-daesh-effort live In July 2018, the regiment participated in Exercise Pitch Black alongside Royal Australian Air Force assets and personnel.https://www.airforce.gov.au/news-and-events/news/australian-army-adds-their-support-exercise-pitch-black Australian Army adds their support to Exercise Pitch Black Scott, Belinda Royal Australian Air Force 24 May 2019 24 May 2019 https://web.archive.org/web/20190524092521/https://www.airforce.gov.au/news-and-events/news/australian-army-adds-their-support-exercise-pitch-black live The regiment has regularly provided personnel to Operation Mazurka, where they are deployed in a peacekeeping role with the Multinational Force and Observers monitoring the border between Israel and Egypt in the Sinai.http://www.army.gov.au/Our-work/Current-Operations/Operation_MAZURKA_Egypt Operation Mazurka Australian Army 3 September 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120227103649/http://www.army.gov.au/Our-work/Current-Operations/Operation_MAZURKA_Egypt 27 February 2012 dead Under project Land 19 Phase 7B, the regiment will receive the National Advanced Surface to Air Missile System, which is scheduled for introduction in 2022–2023.https://www.australiandefence.com.au/defence/joint/adf-s-new-air-defences-pass-gate-2-milestone ADF's new air defences pass Gate 2 milestone Australian Defence Magazine 25 March 2019 24 May 2019 24 May 2019 https://web.archive.org/web/20190524094332/https://www.australiandefence.com.au/defence/joint/adf-s-new-air-defences-pass-gate-2-milestone live http://www.contactairlandandsea.com/2019/03/25/army-commits-to-new-hawkei-based-air-defence-system/ Hartigan, Brian Army commits to new Hawkei-mounted air-defence system 25 March 2019 24 May 2019 24 May 2019 https://web.archive.org/web/20190524094330/http://www.contactairlandandsea.com/2019/03/25/army-commits-to-new-hawkei-based-air-defence-system/ live On 2 June 2019, the 16th Air Land Regiment was renamed the 16th Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery.https://www.australiandefence.com.au/news/upgrades-underway-on-air-defence-radars Upgrades underway on air defence raders Australian Defence Magazine Kerr, Julian 20 June 2019 14 July 2019 13 July 2019 https://web.archive.org/web/20190713143458/http://www.australiandefence.com.au/news/upgrades-underway-on-air-defence-radars live Parade marks milestone with a new name Liebelt Simone Army: The Soldiers' Newspaper 1445 11 July 2019 10 Department of Defence Canberra 0729-5685 https://www.defence.gov.au/Publications/NewsPapers/Army/editions/1446.pdf 7 January 2020 It was transferred to the new 10th Brigade in December 2024.Historic brigade lowers its colours https://www.defence.gov.au/news-events/news/2024-12-02/historic-brigade-lowers-its-colours Department of Defence 5 December 2024 2 December 2024 7 December 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20241207062016/https://www.defence.gov.au/news-events/news/2024-12-02/historic-brigade-lowers-its-colours live Full operational capability for the NASAMS system is scheduled for 2026.Missile launcher a game-changer https://www.defence.gov.au/news-events/news/2023-05-10/missile-launcher-game-changer Department of Defence 4 February 2025 10 May 2023 7 September 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240907140111/https://www.defence.gov.au/news-events/news/2023-05-10/missile-launcher-game-changer live Structure The regiment currently consists of: 110th Air Land Battery; 111th Air Land Battery; 1st Air Ground Operations Battery; and Combat Services Support Battery.16th Air Land Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery http://www.army.gov.au/Our-people/Units/Forces-Command/6th-Combat-Support-Brigade/16th-Air-Land-Regiment-RAA Australian Army 6 November 2016 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20161106132830/http://www.army.gov.au/Our-people/Units/Forces-Command/6th-Combat-Support-Brigade/16th-Air-Land-Regiment-RAA 6 November 2016 Both the 110th and 111th Air Land Batteries are equipped with a number of systems. The primary surface-to-air system is the NASAMS, mounted on Hawkei vehicles and the HX77's chassis and trailers. The Australian Army received 7 Fire Units,LAND19 Phase 7B Project Data Summary Sheet https://www.anao.gov.au/sites/default/files/2024-02/Auditor-General_Report_2023-24_14_pdss_7#4.pdf Australian National Audit Office 4 February 2025 17 February 2024 split between the two batteries. The HX77-mounted CEAOPS radar provides long-range search and track, while the Hawkei-mounted CEATAC and an IRST system provides short-to-medium range search and track.Short Range Air Defence https://www.cea.com.au/domains/short-range-air-defence/ CEA Technologies 4 February 2025 2025 These systems replaced the RBS 70, Giraffe Agile Multi Beam (G-AMB) radar and the AN/TPQ-48 counter-mortar radar.16 Air Defence equipment https://www.artilleryhistory.org/todays_gunline/16_air_land_regiment/16_air_land_regiment_home_page.html Royal Australian Artillery Historical Company 4 February 2025 n.d. 22 February 2025 https://web.archive.org/web/20250222005951/https://www.artilleryhistory.org/todays_gunline/16_air_land_regiment/16_air_land_regiment_home_page.html live The 1st Air Ground Ops Battery is responsible for "the coordination and allocation of friendly air assets in support of the land force in the joint war fighting environment" and includes a troop of Joint Terminal Attack Controllers. The regiment houses a training centre equipped with an Advanced Air Defence Simulator. This consists of high definition projectors inside a dome structure allowing a single RBS 70 detachment to simulate a realistic 360-degree training environment. The simulator is maintained by BAE Systems and was upgraded in 2011.http://www.defpro.com/news/details/11734/ BAE Systems and DRO to Upgrade Australian Army's Air Defence Simulators Defence Professionals 3 September 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120219024719/http://www.defpro.com/news/details/11734/ 19 February 2012 dead Notes References McEvoy R.V Air Defence Units of the Australian Regular Army in South Australia Brooks, David Roundshot to Rapier: Artillery in South Australia 1840–1984 1986 Investigator Press Hawthorndene, South Australia 0-85864-098-8 222–229 Category:Artillery regiments of Australia Category:Military units and formations established in 1969 Category:Military units and formations of Australia in the Iraq War