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Indian Army Raises 15-20 Shaktibaan Drone Regiments for Modern Warfare

The Indian Army is undertaking a major restructuring by raising 15-20 new Shaktibaan regiments dedicated to unmanned warfare, equipped with swarm drones and long-range UAVs. Conceived by Army Chief Gen Upendra Dwivedi, this initiative aims to bridge capability gaps for striking targets between 50 to 500 kilometers. The force will soon issue a fast-track tender for 850 loitering munitions, with Indian defence firms expected to deliver within two years. This expansion is part of a broader modernization that includes creating a pool of over one lakh drone operatives and new specialized units like the Bharav force.

Key Points: Indian Army's Major Drone Push: 15-20 Shaktibaan Regiments

  • Raising 15-20 Shaktibaan drone regiments
  • Fast-track procurement of 850 loitering munitions
  • Bridging strike gap from 50-500 km
  • Creating over 1 lakh drone operatives
2 min read

Major Indian Army drone push, 15-20 Shaktibaan regiments to be raised for unmanned warfare

Indian Army raising 15-20 Shaktibaan drone regiments with swarm drones & loitering munitions for strikes up to 500 km. Fast-track procurement underway.

"The major force restructuring, conceived by Indian Army Chief Gen Upendra Dwivedi, is part of the forces' transformation to tackle the challenges of modern warfare. - defence officials"

By Ajit Dubey, New Delhi, January 7

In a major push to strengthen its drone warfare capabilities, the Indian Army is raising 15-20 Shaktibaan regiments which would be equipped with swarm drones, loitering munitions and long-range UAVs which would be capable of striking targets from 5 kms to 500 Kms.

The Shaktibaan Regiments would be part of the Indian Army's Regiment of Artillery and initial units have already been operationalised, defence officials told ANI.

The major force restructuring, conceived by Indian Army Chief Gen Upendra Dwivedi, is part of the forces' transformation to tackle the challenges of modern warfare.

The raising of these Shaktibaan regiments is set to bridge the force's capability gap to strike targets from 50 to 500 kms, they said.

For targets beyond 400-500 km, the Indian Army's Regiment of Artillery has the BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles and is now also receiving the 120 km-range Pinaka rockets.

To equip the first of the Shaktibaan regiments, the Indian Army will shortly issue a tender under a fast-track procedure to procure 850 loitering munitions, along with the required launchers, they said.

Indian industry will provide the drones through a fast-track process and is expected to deliver them to the Army within the next two years.

Indian firms, including Solar Defence and Aerospace, Adani Defence and RapheM, are likely to be the contenders for this Rs 2,000 crore project.

The Indian Army has already created a pool of over a lakh drone operatives and has now begun equipping formations with the required arsenal.

Along with the Shaktibaan regiments, the Regiment of Artillery will also raise around 35-40 Divyastra batteries as part of artillery divisions, equipped with drones of different types with lethal strike capabilities.

The Infantry is also modernising in line with new warfare requirements by raising Ashmi platoons in each Infantry battalion.

It has also seen the creation of a new Special Force, Bharav, to provide the Army's Special Operations capability at the Corps Headquarters level, with every operative capable of launching drones to hit enemy targets.

The Indian forces used a number of loitering munitions like the Nagastra, Sky Strikers, Harpy and Harop to target enemy targets during Operation Sindoor to destroy enemy bases and Pakistan Army bases after extension of hostilities by Pakistan.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
A lakh drone operatives already trained? That's impressive scale and forward thinking. Hope the focus remains on robust training and ethical use of this technology. It's a powerful deterrent, but we must ensure it's used responsibly.
V
Vikram M
Finally! We've seen the effectiveness of drones in recent conflicts. Bridging the 50-500 km strike gap was a critical need. Shaktibaan regiments, Divyastra batteries, Ashmi platoons... the restructuring sounds comprehensive. Jai Hind!
R
Rohit P
While strengthening defence is crucial, I hope this massive Rs 2000 crore project undergoes strict scrutiny. Fast-track is good, but transparency is better. We need to ensure value for money and that our forces get quality equipment without delays.
S
Sarah B
The integration of drones at every level, from the new Bharav force to infantry platoons, shows a deep understanding of modern combat. The mention of Operation Sindoor proves these aren't just theoretical plans. A strong, tech-savvy army is the best guarantee for peace.
K
Karthik V
Good move by Gen. Dwivedi. The world is watching. With neighbours constantly upgrading, we cannot afford to lag. Swarm drones and loitering munitions can change the dynamics on the LoC and LAC. Proud to see Indian industry at the forefront.

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