A movie depicting the bravery stories of air force 'Air Defence College, Gopalpur' was screened at Shaurya Smarak here on Monday. The movie is produced by Indian Army ADGPI.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 Military Station in Gopalpur, Odisha.
The objective of the academy is to impart technical and operational knowledge to the personnel of the Indian Army posted to the Corps of Army Air Defence (AAD) about the air defence systems and anti-aircraft warfare. Besides the army personnel, the academy also trains personnel from navy, air force and officers from friendly foreign nations.
The history of the academy dates the back to mid-1940s when anti-aircraft training battery was established by the British in July 1940 at Karachi (now Pakistan) to train the troops deputed to the newly established air defence artillery. Post-independence Air Defence and Guided Missile School and Centre were established at Gopalpur. The school was later renamed as 'Army Air Defence College (AADC)' in 1998. The academy enjoyed autonomy after the splitting of the Corps of Army Air Defence from the Regiment 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 parasailing.