Army Air Defence College

The Army Air Defence College,, is the training academy for the Army Air Defence Corps of Indian Army. The college is located in the Gopalpur cantonment in Gopalpur, Odisha. It spreads over an area of 2700 acres of land. The primary objective of the academy is to impart technical and operational knowledge to the personnel of Indian Army posted to the Corps of Army Air Defence about the air defence systems and anti-aircraft warfare. Besides the army personnel, the academy also trains personnel from navy, air force and students from friendly foreign nations.The history of the academy dates back to mid 1940's when anti-aircraft training battery was established by the British in July 1940 at Karachi to train the troops deputed to the newly established air defence artillery. Post-independence Air Defence & Guided Missile School and Centre was established at Gopalpur. The school was later renamed as 'Army Air Defence College ' in 1998. The academy enjoyed autonomy after the bifucartions of the Corps of Army Air Defence from the Regimenet of Artillery. In 2008, the Army Air Defence Centre was also merged into this academy.Infrastructural facilities of the academy include simulators several missile systems used by corps and seaward firing ranges about 75 km. The campus has facilities for sports and adventure activities such as sailing, water skiing, rowing and para sailing.