AD Arty

It was Japanese air threat in SE Asia during the Second World War which forced British Government to raise AD units in India. Thus the history of AD Artillery in India began 1939 onwards when a few Indian troops began to be trained in the use of the 3 inch gun and later the 40mm L/60 gun as part of the Anti-aircraft (AA) Batteries of Hongkong and Singapore Royal Artillery (HKSRA) and Indian Artillery . From 1941 onwards AA units and training establishments began to be raised in India with Indian Officers and men being posted into these establishments from the Artillery and infantry initially, and later through fresh commission and enrolment.

On of the defining periods in the Corps history was from 1987 to 1990 when the following events took place which totally changed the face of AD Artillery

•  Move of AD Wing from School of Artillery and establishment of Air Defence Guided Missile School (now rechristened Army Air Defence College) at Gopalpur Military Station in Orissa during Dec 1989.
• The case for bifurcation from the Regiment of Artillery was initiated. After protracted deliberations and dithering, it finally fructified in Oct 1993.

The Corps of Air Defence Artillery has been re-designated as ‘Corps of Army Air Defnce’ wef 18 Apr 2005. The motto of Army AD is “Aksshe Shatrun Jahi”. The Army AD flag has two colours, sky blue on top and red at the bottom. Sky blue colour signifies the background against which the Army AD weapons have to operate. Red colour symbolizes sacrifice and chivalry. The AD crest is placed in the centre, which has been designed by NID, Ahmedabad. It has two radars emitting antennas facing out-wards and a surface to air missile in the centre.