The primary objective of the academy is to impart technical and operational knowledge to the personnel of Indian Army posted to the Corps of Army Air Defence (AAD) about the air defence systems and anti-aircraft warfare.

Post-independence Air Defence & Guided Missile School and Centre was established at Gopalpur.

The college enjoyed autonomy after the splitting of the Corps of Army Air Defence from the Regiment of Artillery.

[3][4][5][6] In July 1940, government established training schools for anti-aircraft and coastal defence wings at Karachi.

On 1 November 1989, the Air Defence & Guided Missile School and Centre was formally inaugurated as a part of Gopalpur military cantonment.

[4][7][9][10][8] The college is equipped with latest state of the art training facilities to train air defence warrior like several types of simulators, class room variants (CRVs), working models of weapon, cut sections and actual parts of radars, guns, missile and air defence systems used by the corps.

College has administrative facilities like Nalanda Library, an auditorium ( known as 'AIMA Auditorium'), Sibia sports complex, Army Environmental Park and Golf Course, Samudrika sea beach, Sagarika shopping complex, station sainik institute, officer mess ,Dolphin officer institute , Unit Run Canteen and a lake for different aqua and sailing activities and adventure sports.