Indian Army gears up for drone warfare with 20 new 'Shaktibaan' regiments: Report

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

• Indian Army to raise 15-20 Shaktibaan regiments with advanced drone capabilities
• Regiments will bridge strike gaps between 50 km and 500 km range
• Tender for 850 loitering munitions expected soon, worth Rs 2,000 crore

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In a major boost to its drone warfare capability, the Indian Army is in the process of raising 15 to 20 Shaktibaan regiments equipped with swarm drones, loitering munitions and long-range unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) capable of striking targets ranging from 5 km to 500 km, news agency ANI reported.

The Shaktibaan regiments will function under the Indian Army’s Regiment of Artillery, with a few initial units already operationalised, defence officials told ANI. The move is part of a large-scale force restructuring envisioned by Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi to prepare the force for modern, technology-driven warfare.

According to officials, the new regiments are aimed at bridging the Army’s capability gap in striking targets between 50 km and 500 km. For ranges beyond 400–500 km, the Army already fields BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles and is also inducting the 120-km range Pinaka multi-barrel rocket systems.

To equip the first Shaktibaan regiments, the Army is expected to shortly issue a tender under a fast-track procurement process for around 850 loitering munitions along with their launchers, officials said. Indian manufacturers will supply the systems under the fast-track route, with deliveries expected within the next two years.

Indian defence firms such as Solar Defence and Aerospace, Adani Defence, and RapheM are likely to be key contenders for the project, which is estimated to be worth around Rs 2,000 crore, ANI reported.

The Army has already trained more than one lakh drone operators and has begun equipping its formations with a wide range of drone-based weapons. Alongside the Shaktibaan regiments, the Regiment of Artillery will also raise 35 to 40 Divyastra batteries within artillery divisions, each equipped with multiple types of strike-capable drones.

The Infantry is also undergoing parallel modernisation by raising Ashmi platoons in every infantry battalion. In addition, a new Special Forces unit named Bharav has been created to enhance special operations capability at the Corps headquarters level, with each operative trained to launch drones for precision strikes.

During Operation Sindoor, Indian forces extensively used loitering munitions such as Nagastra, Sky Striker, Harpy and Harop to target enemy positions and Pakistani military bases following the escalation of hostilities by Pakistan, ANI reported.