School of Anti Aircraft Artillery was established in 1941 at Clifton, Karachi and is one of the oldest institutions of Pakistan Army. The school played an active role in training of all ranks of Anti Aircraft Artillery during the Second World War. Later on, the School was shifted to Malir cantonment and has been meeting the training requirements of Anti Aircraft Artillery of Pakistan Army. Consequent to advancement in air threat and the trend of arms expansion, the Anti Aircraft Artillery was bifurcated in 1989 from its parent arm and was renamed as School of Army Air Defence.

The School is situated in Malir cantonment, which is about 7 km north east of Quaid-e-Azam International Airport. Malir cantonment is located in south east of Karachi and enjoys all the facilities of a modern cantonment. Karachi is the largest city of Pakistan, the capital of Sindh and has all the facilities of a modern metropolitan city.

The climate of Karachi, influenced by the Arabian Sea, generally remains moderate. The months of December and January are slightly cold. At times cold spells lasting two or three days, caused by Siberian winds blowing over Baluchistan Province, may be experienced during these months. Weather in the months of May and October is hot and maximum temperature occasionally exceeds 32 degree centigrade. The weather usually remains dry, however, Karachi receives some rainfall during the monsoon season in the months of June, July and August.

To identify the quantum of air threat to national, strategic and military targets and to enable officers and selected ranks to respond in a uniformed manner by imparting them progressive training corresponding with their ranks and service.

To impart technical and tactical training to all air defence officers and selected ranks in order to make them proficient in handling/deployment of air defence weapons and to train them to counter the expected air threat effectively. In addition, it produces instructors and staff officers to meet the requirements of Air Defence School, Centre and formations.

In order to ensure high standard of training, Air Defence officers having a high career profile and outstanding performance in profession are posted as instructors. In addition to the instructional staff from own arm, the faculty also has instructor officers from Pakistan Air Force, Armoured Corps, Infantry and Artillery. All instructors of the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and above and Majors of tactical wing are Staff Course and Gunnery Staff Course qualified. Whereas rest of the instructor officers are selected on merit after their Gunnery Staff Course. All assistant instructors detailed on various courses are position holders from their respective trade courses. The medium of instruction for all Officers’ courses is English, whereas Junior Commissioned Officers’ and Non Commissioned Officers’ courses are taught in Urdu language.

The school conducts 17 courses for various ranks each calendar year. The detail of these courses is as under:

The selection criteria for various courses being run in the school is as under:

• Officers with potential for further advancement who could not attend Staff Course are nominated by General Headquarters.
• Service limit 13-18 years.

• Officers are selected on merit after qualifying entrance examination.
• 6-12 years of service
• Junior Staff Course and Mid Career Course qualified.

All Air Defence and Ordnance Officers are nominated by the General Headquarters having 5-6 years of service. Mid Career Course. Captains with 5-6 years of service are nominated by the General Headquarters.

All Air Defence Officers on their commissioning to units.

Captains of All Arms less Air Defence with 4-7 years of service.

Officers
Captains/Lieutenants

Junior Commissioned Officers/Non Commissioned Officers

• Matric with science
• Not within 5 years of retirement
• Eye sight 6x6
• Flying/technical aptitude (Aptitude test is held at the end of first week for selection of students to undergo further training).

Officers

• Captains from Corps of Military Intelligence with parent arm being Artillery, Air Defence, Signals and Electrical and Mechanical Engineering.
• Preferably be Intermediate/ Graduate with science.
• Service up to 10 years.

Non Commissioned Officers/Soldiers

• Only Corps of Military Intelligence Non Commissioned Officers/Soldiers (previous Operator Radars).
• Should not be in last 5 years of service. 

• Should be gunner by trade.
• Should not be within last four years of service.
• Should not have been superseded in present rank. 

Service Limit

• Should not be within last 4 years of service.
• Should not have been superseded in present rank.

Trade

• Should be an Operator Missile.

Civil Education

• Matric 

Service Limit

Should not be within last 4 years of service and should not have been superseded in present rank.

Trade

Should be an Operator Radar.

Civil Education

Matric

• Junior Commissioned /Non Commissioned Officers other than Air Defence.
• Matriculation/Army Education Class-I. 
   

To keep the students fit in mind and body, activities corroborating this ideology are provided to the students, which include:

• Sports competitions

• Hafiz-o-Qiraat Competitions

• Declamation Contests

• Drama competitions

The campus area is approximately 4 square kilometers and houses number of training and administrative blocks, living accommodation for staff and students. It has a well-established officers mess, a large mosque and a sports complex.

The Army Air Defence Corps is dynamic in nature and is likely to further expand and modernize. The school and centre are trying its best to meet the new challenges squarely for which long term plans have already been made.