The Indian Army has raised its first dedicated drone battalion along the western front with Pakistan, marking a major step in its post-Operation Sindoor transformation.

The newly formed Baaz Battalion will function under the Jalandhar-based 11 Corps, also known as the Vajra Corps, which oversees sensitive stretches of the India-Pakistan border in northern Punjab.

The name Baaz, meaning hawk in Hindi, was deliberately chosen to symbolise sharp vision, long-range tracking ability and precision in identifying targets. The unit, raised in Jalandhar, will monitor vast stretches of the northern Punjab frontier, which witnessed heavy fighting in the wars of 1965 and 1971.

The Army is moving to induct and integrate a greater number of drones across different levels to perform both combat and combat-support roles.

Ashni platoons are being inducted into infantry battalions, tasked with reconnaissance and offensive operations using quadcopter-style drones.

Artillery regiments are slated to induct Divyastra batteries and raise Shaktiban regiments. These formations will operate longer-range drones capable of detecting targets deep inside hostile territory. They will also be equipped with loitering munitions of varying ranges, designed to strike deep behind enemy lines.

The Armoured Corps is experimenting with Shaurya squadrons, which will enhance the ability of armoured units to reconnoitre areas more effectively with aerial assets, thereby improving both defensive and offensive operations.

Unlike small drone platoons embedded within infantry units, the Baaz Battalion is designed to operate on a much larger scale. It will employ larger drones such as the Searcher and act as a centralised nerve centre for the Army’s expanding drone ecosystem. The battalion will manage flight operations, data exploitation, maintenance, software updates and coordination with ground troops.

The battalion will also be equipped to fly a wide spectrum of platforms, including long-endurance UAVs such as the American MQ-9B and the Israeli Heron and Hermes. These assets will provide frontline commanders with persistent surveillance, deep-penetration reconnaissance and real-time situational awareness over both border areas and deeper enemy territory.

This capability will allow commanders to form a clearer picture of the adversary’s order of battle and its displacement in time and space, especially in dynamic battle situations. The Baaz Battalion will work in tandem with existing capabilities, binding them into a single, standardised command structure.

The Army aims to sustain a higher operational tempo while ensuring that the flood of data generated by a mixed drone fleet is processed swiftly enough to be tactically useful. AI-based battlefield decision-support systems will play a key role in prioritising information to support and shape operations.

The rationale for this move stems from lessons drawn from recent operational experiences. The prolonged border standoff with China along the Line of Actual Control and the tactical outcomes of Operation Sindoor against Pakistan in May last year highlighted the outsized role of drones and surveillance systems in shaping battlefield decisions.

Officials have stated that no final figure has yet been decided on how many such battalions will eventually be raised, though the model is expected to be replicated across other field formations over time.

Jalandhar also hosts an Army Aviation Squadron that operates Cheetah and Chetak helicopters. This squadron, besides its operational role, has been active in Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief operations across Punjab.

Agencies