Army to Raise Baaz Battalions for Drone Warfare

The Indian Army has decided to raise specialised units called Baaz Battalions for drone warfare. These units will operate under the Army Aviation Corps and will focus on long-range drones for surveillance and attack roles.

Baaz Battalions and Drone Warfare

Baaz Battalions are planned as dedicated formations for military drone operations. Their role includes intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance, which is commonly abbreviated as ISR in military usage. The units are intended to support aerial surveillance, battlefield awareness, and rapid response.

Organisational Structure and Training

The proposed battalions will create a specialist cadre trained in the full drone ecosystem. This ecosystem includes deployment, maintenance, data exploitation, and integration with ground forces. The battalions are distinct from the existing Ashini drone platoons and Divyastra batteries.

Operational Context and Army Modernisation

The decision is linked to lessons from border standoffs along the Line of Actual Control with China, Operation Sindoor against Pakistan, and the Russia-Ukraine war. The initiative fits into the Army’s Decade of Transformation, which is a modernisation framework for capability development.

Important Facts for Exams

• The Army Aviation Corps is the branch that operates Army aviation assets, including helicopters and unmanned aerial systems.
• ISR stands for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance, which is a standard military capability term.
• The Line of Actual Control is the de facto boundary between India and China in several sectors.
• Drone warfare has been used in the Russia-Ukraine war for surveillance, targeting, and strike missions.

Drone Inventory and Future Expansion

The Indian Army’s drone inventory has increased from a few hundred systems two years ago to more than 50,000 systems by June 2026. The exact number of Baaz Battalions has not been disclosed.