The Army Air Defence Corps of India Explained

Army Air Defence is the arm of the Indian Army responsible for protecting field forces and vital assets from attack by aircraft, helicopters, missiles and drones, and it is organised as the Corps of Army Air Defence. Until 1994 air defence guns and missiles were a part of the Regiment of Artillery; in that year the Army made air defence a separate arm with its own identity, training establishment and career structure. Its motto, “Akashe Shatrun Jahi”, means “Destroy the enemy in the sky”.

This explainer describes how Army Air Defence developed, how it differs from the air defence role of the Indian Air Force, the guns, missiles and radars it uses, and how its role is changing as small drones become a battlefield threat. It draws only on public information and does not describe current deployments or numbers.

Key Takeaways

• The Corps of Army Air Defence is the arm of the Indian Army that defends troops, convoys and key installations against air attack.
• Army Air Defence became a separate arm in 1994 after serving for decades as a part of the Regiment of Artillery.
• The motto of Army Air Defence, “Akashe Shatrun Jahi”, translates to “Destroy the enemy in the sky”.
• Army Air Defence uses a layered mix of guns such as the L/70 and the ZSU-23-4 Shilka, shoulder-fired missiles such as the Igla, and surface-to-air missile systems such as the Akash.
• The Indian Air Force is responsible for the overall air defence of the country, while Army Air Defence protects ground forces and assets in the battle area.
• Small unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) have become a central concern, pushing Army Air Defence towards sensors, jammers and short-range weapons designed for low, slow and small targets.

What is Army Air Defence?

Army Air Defence is the part of the Indian Army that detects, tracks and engages hostile aircraft, helicopters, missiles and drones in order to protect ground forces. Its soldiers are known as air defence gunners, and their equipment ranges from shoulder-fired missiles carried by a single soldier to radar-guided guns and missile launchers mounted on vehicles.

The arm’s main responsibilities are to protect the manoeuvre formations such as armoured and infantry divisions, to defend vulnerable points such as bridges, ammunition depots, airfields near the front and command posts, and to ensure that an enemy cannot attack the Army from the air without cost. Air defence units work closely with the other arms, and they move with the formations they protect.

How did Army Air Defence begin?

Army Air Defence began as anti-aircraft artillery within the Regiment of Artillery, and was formed as an independent arm in 1994 when the Army decided that air defence needed specialised leadership, doctrine and training. Anti-aircraft units were raised in the British Indian Army during the Second World War to protect Indian cities, ports and troops against Japanese air raids, and they continued in the Regiment of Artillery after Independence.

During the wars of 1965 and 1971, air defence gunners defended air bases, bridges and field formations against low-flying attack aircraft. The growing complexity of air threats, which included fast jets, helicopters and missiles, and the arrival of sophisticated missile systems from the Soviet Union, made the case for a dedicated arm. This led to the separation of Air Defence from the Regiment of Artillery in 1994, creating the Corps of Army Air Defence.

How is Army Air Defence different from the Indian Air Force’s role?

Army Air Defence is different from the Indian Air Force’s role because the Air Force holds responsibility for the air defence of the whole country, while Army Air Defence protects the Army’s own troops and assets in the battle area. The two services use common radar pictures and work under a joint command-and-control system so that their weapons do not engage friendly aircraft.

In practice, the Air Force defends the country’s airspace through interceptor aircraft, large surface-to-air missile systems and long-range radars, as well as protecting strategic cities and installations. The Army’s air defence units provide close-in protection for formations on the move and for vital points on the ground. The Navy has its own air defence systems for ships.

Coordination between the services is essential. An integrated air command and control network links radars and weapons across the three services, and the Army has also developed its own automated system to improve control of air defence at the tactical level.

What guns does Army Air Defence use?

Army Air Defence uses anti-aircraft guns that fire rapidly against low-flying targets, and the best-known examples are the L/70 gun, the ZU-23-2 twin-barrel gun and the self-propelled ZSU-23-4 Shilka. Guns remain useful because they are cheap per shot, hard to jam and effective against low-level threats.

• L/70: A 40 mm gun of Swedish design, based on the Bofors L/70, which has been used in the Indian Army for decades and has been upgraded with modern fire-control equipment.
• ZU-23-2: A towed 23 mm twin-barrel gun of Soviet origin, widely used by many armies.
• ZSU-23-4 Shilka: A tracked, self-propelled system with four 23 mm barrels and an on-board radar, able to accompany armoured columns.

Modern upgrades have added electro-optical sights, digital fire-control and improved ammunition, which extend the useful life of these older platforms and make them more effective against small drones.

What missiles does Army Air Defence use?

Army Air Defence uses a layered set of surface-to-air missiles: shoulder-fired missiles for the shortest ranges, short-range vehicle-mounted systems for formations on the move and medium-range systems for larger areas. The layering means that a target that gets through one layer can be engaged by another.

Shoulder-fired systems

The Igla series of man-portable air defence systems, of Russian origin, is widely known. These missiles can be launched by a single soldier against helicopters and low-flying aircraft and use infrared homing guidance.

Short-range systems

Soviet-era vehicle-mounted systems such as the Strela-10 and the OSA-AK-M have long been part of the inventory, along with the gun and missile system Tunguska. Israeli systems such as the Spyder have been added as quick-reaction missile systems.

Medium-range systems

The Akash is an indigenous medium-range surface-to-air missile developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and produced by Bharat Dynamics Limited, and it has been inducted into the Army as well as the Air Force. Older systems such as the Pechora have been upgraded and kept in service.

How do radars and control systems support air defence?

Radars and control systems support air defence by finding aerial targets, identifying them as friend or foe, and passing the information to the weapons that will engage them. Without radars and communication networks, even the best missile or gun is unable to react in time.

Air defence radars come in several types: surveillance radars that scan large areas, low-level radars designed to detect aircraft flying close to the ground, and fire-control radars that direct guns and missiles onto targets. The DRDO’s Indra series of low-level radars is an example of an indigenous product, and Bharat Electronics Limited is a major supplier of radars and control systems to the Army.

The Army’s automated air defence control and reporting system, known as Akashteer, has been developed to link sensors and weapons at the tactical level. Such networks allow commanders to see a common air picture and assign targets quickly.

Why is the drone threat changing Army Air Defence?

The drone threat is changing Army Air Defence because small, cheap unmanned aerial vehicles are hard to detect, can be launched in large numbers and can be used for reconnaissance, attack or as loitering munitions. Traditional air defence was designed against fast jets and helicopters, which are large and fly in predictable ways.

Modern wars, including those in Ukraine and the Middle East, have shown how drones can threaten even well-defended positions. Indian forces have publicly highlighted counter-drone work, and in May 2025 Indian air defence systems were reported to have countered numerous drones in a cross-border conflict. The response includes:

• Detection: Radars tuned for small, slow targets, and radio-frequency and electro-optical sensors.
• Soft-kill measures: Jamming and spoofing of control and navigation signals.
• Hard-kill measures: Guns with advanced fire-control, short-range missiles and directed-energy research.
• Passive measures: Camouflage, dispersal and hardening of vital points.

Because it would be wasteful to fire an expensive missile at a cheap drone, the Army is exploring lower-cost solutions, and upgraded guns have found a renewed role.

How does Army Air Defence train and organise its people?

Army Air Defence trains its officers and soldiers at the Army Air Defence College and Centre in Gopalpur, Odisha, which is the home of the arm. The institution runs courses on weapon systems, radars and tactics, and the arm has its own cadre of specialists.

Units are known as air defence regiments, and some of them are equipped with guns, others with missiles and others with a combination. They are attached to corps and divisions and move with the formations they protect. Officers of the Corps also serve on staff assignments that coordinate with the Air Force, since air defence is a joint task.

What is the role of Army Air Defence in wartime and peacetime?

In wartime, Army Air Defence shields troop concentrations, logistic hubs and command posts from air attack so that other arms can fight freely. In peacetime, it trains, maintains its equipment and supports the defence of vital installations and important events.

Like other arms of the Army, it can also be called upon to assist civil authorities during emergencies. Its professional emphasis is on readiness, since an air attack can come with very little warning.

Bottom Line

Army Air Defence is the Indian Army’s shield against the sky. Since becoming a separate arm in 1994, it has combined older gun systems with modern missiles, radars and networked control, and it is now adapting rapidly to the challenge of drones. Its work is closely coordinated with the Indian Air Force, which has overall responsibility for the nation’s air defence.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Army Air Defence Corps of India?

The Corps of Army Air Defence is the arm of the Indian Army that protects ground forces and vital assets from aerial attack. It operates anti-aircraft guns, missiles and radars. It became a separate arm in 1994 after being part of the Regiment of Artillery.

When was Army Air Defence separated from the Regiment of Artillery?

Army Air Defence was separated from the Regiment of Artillery in 1994. The Army took this step because air threats had become more complex and needed dedicated doctrine, equipment and training. The Corps now has its own college and centre at Gopalpur in Odisha.

What is the motto of Army Air Defence?

The motto of Army Air Defence is “Akashe Shatrun Jahi”, which means “Destroy the enemy in the sky”. It reflects the arm’s task of defending ground forces and installations from aerial attack.

Which weapons does Army Air Defence use?

Army Air Defence uses anti-aircraft guns, shoulder-fired missiles and surface-to-air missile systems. Well-known examples include the L/70 gun, the ZSU-23-4 Shilka, the Igla missile and the indigenous Akash missile. Radars and control networks support these weapons.

Who is responsible for the air defence of India, the Army or the Air Force?

The Indian Air Force has primary responsibility for the air defence of the country as a whole, while Army Air Defence protects the Army’s own forces and assets in the battle area. The three services share a joint air picture to coordinate their weapons and avoid engaging friendly aircraft.

How is Army Air Defence dealing with drones?

Army Air Defence is dealing with drones by combining sensors that detect small targets with jamming equipment, upgraded guns and short-range missiles. Because drones are cheap and can come in large numbers, the arm is looking for low-cost ways to stop them. Counter-drone capability has become a priority in recent years.

{“@context”:”https://schema.org”,”@graph”:[{“@type”:”FAQPage”,”mainEntity”:[{“@type”:”Question”,”name”:”What is the Army Air Defence Corps of India?”,”acceptedAnswer”:{“@type”:”Answer”,”text”:”The Corps of Army Air Defence is the arm of the Indian Army that protects ground forces and vital assets from aerial attack. It operates anti-aircraft guns, missiles and radars. It became a separate arm in 1994 after being part of the Regiment of Artillery.”}},{“@type”:”Question”,”name”:”When was Army Air Defence separated from the Regiment of Artillery?”,”acceptedAnswer”:{“@type”:”Answer”,”text”:”Army Air Defence was separated from the Regiment of Artillery in 1994. The Army took this step because air threats had become more complex and needed dedicated doctrine, equipment and training. The Corps now has its own college and centre at Gopalpur in Odisha.”}},{“@type”:”Question”,”name”:”What is the motto of Army Air Defence?”,”acceptedAnswer”:{“@type”:”Answer”,”text”:”The motto of Army Air Defence is “Akashe Shatrun Jahi”, which means “Destroy the enemy in the sky”. It reflects the arm’s task of defending ground forces and installations from aerial attack.”}},{“@type”:”Question”,”name”:”Which weapons does Army Air Defence use?”,”acceptedAnswer”:{“@type”:”Answer”,”text”:”Army Air Defence uses anti-aircraft guns, shoulder-fired missiles and surface-to-air missile systems. Well-known examples include the L/70 gun, the ZSU-23-4 Shilka, the Igla missile and the indigenous Akash missile. Radars and control networks support these weapons.”}},{“@type”:”Question”,”name”:”Who is responsible for the air defence of India, the Army or the Air Force?”,”acceptedAnswer”:{“@type”:”Answer”,”text”:”The Indian Air Force has primary responsibility for the air defence of the country as a whole, while Army Air Defence protects the Army’s own forces and assets in the battle area. The three services share a joint air picture to coordinate their weapons and avoid engaging friendly aircraft.”}},{“@type”:”Question”,”name”:”How is Army Air Defence dealing with drones?”,”acceptedAnswer”:{“@type”:”Answer”,”text”:”Army Air Defence is dealing with drones by combining sensors that detect small targets with jamming equipment, upgraded guns and short-range missiles. Because drones are cheap and can come in large numbers, the arm is looking for low-cost ways to stop them. Counter-drone capability has become a priority in recent years.”}}]}]}