Indian Air Force: A Cut Above

Indian Air Force: A Cut Above is the official free air combat mobile gaming application of the Indian Air Force first released on 31 May 2019.^[1][2] It was officially launched on 31 July 2019 by the Air Chief Marshal B. S. Dhanoa for Android and iOS.^[3] In November 2019 Google picked the game to be part of the Best Game 2019 awards (in the 'Users Choice Game' category).^[3][4] The Vice Chief of Air Staff Air Marshal Harjit Singh Arora released the multiplayer version of the game.^[5][2]

Indian Air Force: A Cut Above
Developer(s)	Threye Interactice Pvt Ltd (Threye: Military Games)
Publisher(s)	Indian Air Force
Platform(s)	Android, iOS
Release	31 July 2019
Genre(s)	Combat flight simulator
Mode(s)	Singleplayer, Multiplayer

The game has three training levels where the user is taught the various intricacies of the game such as taking off, landing gear operations, air-control, target hitting and various other things.^[6] The game features a character similar to Abhinandan Varthaman's featuring his gunslinger mustache, however customization is possible.^[7][4] The game has three difficulty levels.^[6] The game allows the user to control a variety of the IAFs arsenal including the MI-17 V5 helicopter, the Mirage 2000, Sukhoi Su 30, BAE Hawk, C-17, AH-64 Apache as well as the Rafale. In the Multiplayer option in both deathmatch and team battle, the Indigenous HAL Tejas as well as the venerable Mig-21 appears . Also the S-400 missile system, Bofors anti aircraft guns and Stinger MANPADS make appearances.^[6][1] The controls however have been described as "clunky" and a few errors and loopholes have enabled the players to land on and take off from enemy carrier battle groups and even the water surface . the gameplay has been compared to the "arcade style of simulation found in games like Ace Combat and Tom Clancy’s H.A.W.X.".^[1][7]

The game, as explained in the information section of Google Play Store, "allows IAF aspirants to experience first hand the roles of an air warrior, as well as means to apply and appear for recruitment from the comfort of a mobile phone".^[8][9][10] An IAF spokesperson reiterated this saying that "the primary aim of this game is to get youth attracted to the profession of military aviation, while providing information about career options in the Indian Air Force."^[1]

A Cut Above is a follow-up to the 2014 game called Guardians of the Skies which was also produced by the IAF.^[11] Guardians of the Skies had won various awards such as "Best mobile application (game) in 2014 from Microsoft India" and was also awarded by Unity3D.^[12][13] Threye, a Delhi-based game development studio, won the contract from the Air Force from a bid of over 120 participants in 2013.^[12][1]