'Nano drones, loiter munitions and more': How India is enhancing special forces capabilities

The Army’s first vertical wind tunnel to enhance ‘combat freefall’ is operational at the Special Forces Training School in Himachal Pradesh.

India is enhancing the capabilities of its special forces capabilities with advanced technology including nano drones, loiter munitions and sophisticated communication equipment, according to a report by Times of India.

Defence ministry insiders told TOI the upgrade in gruelling combat training is part of an ongoing process.

According to the report, the training will include “augmented reality/virtual reality mission planners and simulators” in the near future, as well as “specialised equipping” of the Special Forces in the Army, IAF and Navy.

There are reportedly 10 Para-Special Forces and five Para (Airborne) battalions (each has around 620 soldiers) in the Army, 27 flights of around 1,600 Garud commandos in IAF and over 1,400 marine commandos (Marcos) in the Navy.

However, the lack of a full-fledged Special Operations Command is reportedly a major shortcoming. According to the report, the creation of a truncated Armed Forces Special Operations Division (AFSOD) has somewhat addressed the issue of “jointness and synergy” among the Para-SF, Garuds and Marcos.

Sources told TOI that the induction of advanced software-defined radios, including manpack versions, and satellite-communication systems, for instance, have ensured “uninterrupted and seamless” long-range communications for joint operations among the three forces.

“The induction of loiter munition systems has boosted the precision-targeting capabilities of Para-SF units. Similarly, remotely-piloted aerial vehicles, nano drones, surveillance copters and lightweight drones with FLIR (forward-looking infra-red) payloads have been inducted for advanced short and medium-range surveillance up to 10-km,” the source said.

The report stated that with stealth being paramount for insertion behind enemy lines, advanced indigenous “combat free-fall parachute systems” and other such equipment have been inducted, while procurement of new “integrated combat diving kits” is also underway.

“Guided aerial delivery systems are now available to ensure commandos can operate independently behind enemy lines for longer durations,” another source told TOI.

The Special Forces already have specialised weapons, ranging from Finnish Sako long-range sniper rifles, American M4A1 carbines and Israeli TAR-21 Tavor assault rifles to Swedish Carl Gustaf lightweight rocket launchers, Russian VSS suppressed sniper rifles and Italian Beretta pistols with silencers.

According to the TOI report, the Army’s first vertical wind tunnel to enhance “combat freefall” skills of its Special Forces and others is fully operational at the Special Forces Training School at Bakloh in Himachal Pradesh.