Corps of Army Air Defence
The Corps of Army Air Defence (abbreviated as AAD), is an active corps of the Indian Army and a major combat support arm tasked with air defence of the country from foreign threats. The AAD is responsible for the protection of Indian air space from enemy aircraft and missiles, especially below 5,000 feet.
| Corps of Army Air Defence | |
|---|---|
Regimental crest | |
| Active | 1939 – present day |
| Country | British India (1939-1947) India (1947-present) |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom Republic of India |
| Branch | British Indian Army Indian Army |
| Type | Army Corps |
| Role | Air Defence Warfare |
| Size | Around 85,000 soldiers and 6,000 officers. |
| Part of | Indian Army |
| Motto(s) | Sanskrit: आकाशे शत्रुन् जहि English: Annihilate the Airborne Enemy |
| Regimental colors | Sky blue & Red |
| Anniversaries | January 10 |
| Engagements | World War II 1947 Indo-Pakistani War Sino-Indian War of 1962 Indo-Pak War of 1965 Indo-Pak War of 1971 Kargil War |
| Website | Indian Army Official Site |
| Commanders | |
| Director General of Corps of Army Air Defence | Lieutenant General Sumer Ivan D’Cunha |
| Insignia | |
| Regimental flag | |
The history of the AAD dates back to 1939 during the times of the British Raj in India. The corps actively took part in the Second World War fighting on behalf of the British Empire. Post independence, the corps has participated in all the wars involving India, starting from the 1947 Indo-Pakistani War to the 1999 Kargil conflict.
The corps enjoyed autonomous status from 1994, after the bifurcation of the Corps of Air Defence Artillery from the Army's Regiment of Artillery. A separate training school, the Army Air Defence College (AADC), was established to train its personnel.