Mission:
Conducts air defense of the combat formations of Army units and commands, as well as facilities of special importance to the defense of the country, at low altitudes, in order to protect and defend the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic.
Tasks:
Planning and organization
• Employment of the units
• Planning and execution of training and exercises
• Planning and execution of personnel management
• Intelligence, counter‑intelligence, and force protection
• Logistic support
• Organization and preparation of CIS (Communications and Information Systems)
• Planning of financial resources
Captain Deniz Mehmed
Captain Deniz Mehmed was born on 8 December 1990 in Skopje. After completing his primary and secondary education in Skopje, he continued his military education at the “General Mihailo Apostolski” Military Academy in Skopje. He began his military career as an officer of the Air Defense Artillery (ADA) Branch. Throughout his career, he has held several command posts at platoon level, and since 3 March 2022 he has been appointed Commander of an Air Defense Battery.
He has completed numerous courses, including: a basic Turkish Language Course, a Training Course for Operation and Handling of the MANPADS Igla in the Republic of Slovenia, a Professional Training and Advanced Course for Company Commanders. In the 2023/2024 academic year he completed the Command and Staff School. He has participated in multiple military exercises within the country. He has been awarded and commended multiple times, among which the most notable are: Award Leave by the Ministry of Defense in 2022 and 2024, and the Bronze Badge of the Army in 2023. Captain Mehmed is proficient in English language. He is married and the father of two children.
Military Career:
- Commander of the 2nd Missile Platoon in the 2nd Missile Battery, Air Defense Battalion, 2015-2017;
- Commander of the 1st Missile Platoon in the 2nd Missile Battery, Air Defense Battalion, 2017-2020;
- Commander of the 1st Air Defense Platoon in an Air Defense Battery, 2020-2022.
Promotions:
Second Lieutenant, 2015-2017;
Lieutenant, 2017-2021;
Captain, 2021.
1992
• The Regiment’s first working day began on 6 April, 1992, at the Petrovec barracks with the holding of the first meeting of the regiment’s officers. Recruitment started on 15 April, 1992, when the first soldier arrived at the Regiment. Training of the soldiers also began that same month. The first generation of Air Defense (AD) soldiers took the solemn oath on May 9, 1992, at the “Ilinden” barracks in Skopje.
• The first live firing at ground targets using the Air Defense Rocket Artillery Unit (AD RAU) was carried out on June 16, 1992, at the Army Training Area “Krivolak”, using the PAT 20/3 mm anti-aircraft gun. Later, in December 1992, another live firing at ground targets was conducted using the PAT 20/3 mm and PAT 40 mm anti-aircraft guns.
2001
• In 2001, the unit was equipped with modern assets in order to strengthen air defense. Air defense missile systems of the “Strela-10M” and “Igla” types were procured, and subsequently a course for operating these missile systems was conducted.
• In the second half of 2001, the unit was transformed from an Air Defense Regiment into the 3rd Air Defense Battalion.
2004
• During 2004, for the first time in the history of the Army of the Republic of Macedonia, live firing at aerial targets (called “parachutists”) was organized and conducted using a PAT 20/3 mm anti-aircraft gun.
2005
• Another transformation of the unit took place during 2005, whereby the 3rd Air Defense Battalion was transformed into the Air Defense Battalion.
2007
• In 2007, in accordance with partnership objectives, a proposal plan was developed for the formation of a declared Air Defense Platoon. With the start of preparations for the exercise “Macedonian Flash 07,” all documents for the platoon were officially approved.
2008
• As a result of cooperation with the Armed Forces of the Republic of Slovenia, a stationary camp was organized during 2008, and the exercise “Challenge 08” was conducted for the first time. The culmination of the successfully completed training was the execution of technical live firing at aerial targets in the airspace using the man-portable air defense system (MANPADS) “Igla” at the Army Training Area “Krivolak”. Thus, on 12 September, 2008, the first missile was launched in the airspace by a member of ARM since the establishment of the Army of the Republic of Macedonia.
2009
• In the period from 4 to 13 September, 2009, a stationary camp with live firing using the man-portable air defense system (MANPADS) “Igla” was conducted at the Army Training Area “Krivolak”, together with members of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Slovenia. Within the framework of the bilateral exercise “Challenge 09,” members of the Air Defense Battalion carried out live firing.
2011
• Members of the Air Defense Battalion and members of the flying squadrons within the Air Force VING, together with members of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Slovenia, participated in the bilateral military exercise “Challenge 2011” during September 2011. The armed forces of both countries demonstrated their level of training through: engagement of aerial targets in the airspace using the man-portable air defense system (MANPADS) “Igla”, bombing with “Pilatus PC-9M” combat aircraft, and rocket attacks using Mi-24 combat helicopters.
2012
• In the period from 21 to 28 September, 2012, the bilateral exercise “Challenge 2012” was conducted at the Army Training Area “Krivolak”. Worthy of recognition, the exercise “Challenge 2012” was the fifth of its kind to be jointly conducted the Army Training Area “Krivolak” by members of the Army of the Republic of Macedonia (the Air Defense Battalion of the Air Brigade) and the Armed Forces of the Republic of Slovenia (9th Air Defense Battalion). During the exercise, live firing at aerial targets in the airspace was carried out using the man-portable air defense system (MANPADS) “Igla”.
2022-2025
• In line with the modernization of the Army, in 2022 a contract was signed for the procurement of the “MISTRAL 3” system, which is expected to be delivered to the Air Defense Battalion during 2025.
