Army Air Defence College Gopalpur concludes 44-week GBADS training
Synopsis
India's Army Air Defence College in Gopalpur has wrapped up a gruelling 44-week course training officers from five friendly nations alongside Indian Army personnel on cutting-edge Ground-Based Air Defence Systems. As drone warfare reshapes modern battlefields, this training pipeline signals India's seriousness about both air defence modernisation and its growing role as a regional defence education partner.
Key Takeaways
The Army Air Defence College , Gopalpur , concluded its Long Air Defence Course on Tuesday, 6 May 2025 after 44 weeks .
Six officers from Botswana, Ghana, Myanmar, Nepal, and Malaysia participated alongside Indian Army officers.
Training focused on Ground-Based Air Defence Systems (GBADS) , counter-drone and counter-missile tactics, and technology-driven solutions.
Major Akshay Patil won the Vayu Raksha Trophy ; Major Sumit Kumar received the Commandant's Trophy .
Awards were presented by Lt Gen R.C.
Srikanth , Commandant of the Army Air Defence College.
The Army Air Defence College in Gopalpur, Odisha, on Tuesday, 6 May 2025, concluded its Long Air Defence Course — an intensive 44-week training programme designed to sharpen technical and tactical expertise in modern Ground-Based Air Defence Systems (GBADS). The course, conducted under the Army Training Command, saw participation from both Indian Army officers and six officers from friendly foreign countries.
Participating Nations and Defence Cooperation
The course drew officers from Botswana, Ghana, Myanmar, Nepal, and Malaysia, alongside Indian Army personnel. The diverse international representation underscores India's expanding role as a regional defence training hub and its growing strategic partnerships with friendly nations. This kind of structured multilateral engagement in military education is increasingly central to India's defence diplomacy framework.
What the Training Covered
According to an official post shared on X by the Army Training Command, participants underwent rigorous instruction covering both the technical and operational dimensions of the latest GBADS platforms. The curriculum was specifically structured to prepare officers for effective deployment of these systems in rapidly evolving battlefield scenarios.
A key focus of the programme was countering contemporary and emerging aerial threats — including drones, missiles, and advanced aerial platforms — which have become central to modern conflict. The training also emphasised technology-integrated solutions and encouraged disruptive thinking to future-proof air defence preparedness. This comes amid a global surge in drone warfare, which has fundamentally altered aerial threat calculus from Ukraine to the Middle East.
Awards and Valedictory Ceremony
At the valedictory ceremony, Major Akshay Patil was awarded the prestigious Vayu Raksha Trophy for outstanding performance during the course. Major Sumit Kumar received the Commandant's Trophy for overall excellence. Both awards were presented by Lieutenant General R.C. Srikanth, Commandant of the Army Air Defence College, who commended the officers for their dedication and professionalism throughout the 44-week programme.
Broader Significance for Indian Army Modernisation
The successful conclusion of the Long Air Defence Course reflects the Indian Army's sustained emphasis on capacity building, modernisation, and operational readiness in the air defence domain. Notably, as India accelerates procurement of advanced GBADS platforms — including indigenous systems — structured training pipelines like this one become critical force multipliers. The college's role as a training partner for friendly nations also positions India as a credible contributor to regional and global security architecture.
Point of View
Southeast Asia, and South Asia — is not incidental. It reflects a deliberate Indian strategy to embed itself as the preferred defence training partner in its extended neighbourhood, a soft-power lever that complements hardware diplomacy. More substantively, the course's emphasis on counter-drone tactics is timely: the Indian Army has been accelerating GBADS acquisitions precisely because drone swarms and loitering munitions have emerged as the defining threat of contemporary warfare. Whether training pipelines can keep pace with the speed of that technological shift remains the harder question.
NationPress
6 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Long Air Defence Course at Gopalpur?
The Long Air Defence Course is an intensive 44-week programme conducted at the Army Air Defence College in Gopalpur, Odisha, under the Army Training Command. It trains Indian Army officers and officers from friendly foreign countries on the technical and tactical use of Ground-Based Air Defence Systems (GBADS).
Which countries participated in the 2025 Long Air Defence Course?
Officers from Botswana, Ghana, Myanmar, Nepal, and Malaysia participated alongside Indian Army personnel, reflecting India's growing role as a defence training partner for friendly nations.
Who won the Vayu Raksha Trophy at the Army Air Defence College?
Major Akshay Patil was awarded the Vayu Raksha Trophy for outstanding performance during the 44-week course. Major Sumit Kumar received the Commandant's Trophy for overall excellence.
What threats does the GBADS training prepare officers for?
The training equips officers to counter contemporary aerial threats including drones, missiles, and advanced aerial platforms. It also emphasises technology-integrated solutions and disruptive thinking to address emerging battlefield challenges.
Why is the Army Air Defence College course significant for India?
The course underscores the Indian Army's focus on air defence modernisation and capacity building at a time when drone warfare is reshaping global conflicts. It also reinforces India's position as a key defence training partner for friendly nations, strengthening regional security cooperation.
