The 27 Air Defence Regiment was raised at Malir Cantonment on February 1, 1942 by Lt Col HT Hogan. It was christened 3 Indian Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment. At the time of its inception, the regiment was equipped with No 5 Mk-I Bofors, 40 mm L/60 guns and American anti-aircraft guns. The class composition of the regiment was South Indian communities. During the second World War, the subunits were deployed at Chittagong, Ceylon, Bombay and Calcutta. In 1945, the unit moved to Visakhapatnam for training in amphibious assaults. There, it was issued with new 40 mm SP guns. With the second World War coming to an end, the regiment moved to Coimbatore.

After partition of the country, the unit moved to Kirkee where it was again re-equipped with 40 mm L/60 guns. On January 25, 1947 the unit was renamed as 27 Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment. In February 1965, the unit was given its present name—27 Air Defence Regiment. The regiment was deployed during operation Ablaze to provide air defence protection to 15 Field Ammunition Depot, Udhampur, Akhnur and Jammu Tawi bridges and Jammu airfield.

During Indo-Pak war (1965), the regiment was deployed to provide air defence protection to 15 Field Ammunition Depot, Udhampur, Akhnur bridge, Jammu Tawi bridge and Pathankot airfield. In recognition of its meritorious services, the unit was decorated with two Vir Chakra, two Sena Medals and five Mentioned-in-Despatches during this period.

During operation Cactus Lily (1971), the regiment was responsible for providing air defence protection to Amritsar airfield, Amritsar Signal Unit, Pathankot airfield and Pathankot Ammunition Dump. By the end of the 1971 war, the regiment emerged as one of the highest decorated air defence regiments. It won three Vir Chakra, one Sena Medal and two Vishisht Seva Medal.

After termination of 1971 war, the unit moved to its permanent location at Ludhiana. It moved to Delhi in 1977. During its stay in Delhi, its services were used in Asiad. The unit lived up to the expectations once again. In May 1982, the regiment was awarded the title "Amritsar Airfield" in recognition of the meritorious service rendered during Indo-Pak conflict of 1971. The unit at Bhuj was deployed for operation Trident in 1987.

The regiment moved from Bhuj to Gurdaspur and took part in operation Rakshak. In August 1993, the unit moved from Gurdaspur to Ambala Cantt. The regiment was inducted to Northern Sector to take part in operation Rakshak-II. In the Northern Sector, the regiment performed extremely well in counter-insurgency operations. It bagged one Sena Medal, one Chief of Army Staff Commendation Card and eleven GOC-in-C, Northern Command Commendation Cards. During operation Vijay, the regiment was deployed in its operational tasks. The regiment got de-inducted from Northern Sector and reached Vadodara in March 2000.

From Vadodara, the unit was mobilised for operation Sahayata on January 26, last year for providing rescue and relief to the earthquake victims in Gujarat. The unit did a commendable job and won the hearts and the minds of people of Ahmedabad. It bagged one Chief of Army Staff Commendation Card and two GOC-in-C, Southern Command Commendation Cards adding yet another feather in its cap.

The officers and men of the regiment have also been actively taking part in various adventure activities. A regimental team took part in the Himalayan Car Rallies in 1984 and 1985. Four young officers of the regiment undertook an expedition of the rough sea along Kutch in 1985 covering approximately 900 kms in six days. To add variety to the adventure activities, the regiment undertook a cycle rally of JCOs and ORs around the Kutch Sector during February 1987. The team covered roughly 700 kms in seven days. The regiment has also participated in an expedition to Leo Pargial Peak.