Sadly, thats what happens when there are so many outside influences. I lived on the island from 66-69 when John Frost of Arnhem fame was the GOC Maltese Army.
Their artillery cap badge was an offshoot of anti air batteries during WW2, but now without the crown.

They were using 25 pounders during my stay there and I did see them and the SLR on guard duty outside Government House in 2015, so you may be right SLR's and drill UK style, and AK47's for ops jobs.......I'll have to ask when I go back as I often do. If there was ever a place for me to live away from Englandicon, it would be Malta