The Indian Air Force launched a 3D mobile game to give aspirants a taste of the action

• The Indian Air Force (IAF) has launched a new 3D mobile game called 'Indian Air Force A Cut Above'.
• The Air Force is hoping to give aspirants a chance to see what it would feel like to fly a for the service and be an 'air warrior'.
• The 3D flight simulation game has 10 different modes to choose from like conducting a surgical strike or ops for with futuristic weapons.

The Indian Air Force (IAF) just launched a new 3D mobile game called 'Indian Air Force A Cut Above' to give aspirants a chance to experience what it would be like to be an actual pilot in service — or an 'air warrior'.


Right now, users can only play the single player version of the game but there are plans to launch a multiplayer version soon.

The mobile game was developed by Threye Military Games in collaboration with IAF, using Unity 3D's Cinemachine. It is available for download in both Android and iOS play stores.

The game also has an option for users to apply and appear for recruitment into the IAF from within the app itself.

This isn't the only game that the IAF has launched in the country to get more of the youth to engage with aerial operations of the Indian Armed Forces.

In 2014, Threye Military Games and IAF also launched Guardians of the Skies that put users in the pilot's seat of different operations — fighters, bombers, transports and even special forces. So far, the game has over a million downloads in the Google Play Store, with a rating of 4.4 stars.

First impressions

When you first log into this new game, it kicks off with a tutorial on the basics of flying a plane. The graphics aren't phenomenal, but for a flight simulator the navigation works well.

You start off by getting the plane off the tarmac. Once you're in the air, you can adjust your flight height by pivoting the smartphone upwards or downwards. Moving the phone to one side or the other changes the direction in which the plane is flying.

If you only want to look around and not actually move, you can use your finger to swipe across the screen and check your surroundings.

There are three different camera modes to choose from, as you play the game.

After you've learnt to navigate, the game takes you into armament training where you learn to use your plan's gun system to take down enemy combatants in air. As a player, you have to navigate as you shoot down other aircraft, using the toggle on the right.

The final part of the game is knowing how to land a plane. And once you know the three main components, you can start on the 10 single player missions that the game has available — including natural disaster event, surgical strike, base defence and futuristic weapons.

And, if you want to practice your flying some more, the game has a 'Free Flight' option but its only available if you sign up for a free account in the game.