The Army is planning to set up drone training centres and hubs across 19 key training establishments in the country, including the Indian Military Academy in Dehradun, the Infantry School in Mhow, the Officers Training Academy in Chennai and Gaya, and the School of Artillery in Deolali, The Indian Express reported.
The step is aimed at consolidating drone training facilities into the standard training curriculum for all ranks. This is in line with the inclusion of drones as a standard weapon system in the defence forces post Operation Sindoor, India’s response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that claimed 26 lives.
Operation Sindoor
During the operation that began on May 7, India targeted terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. India's offensive strikes targeted key Pakistani airbases- Noor Khan and Rahimyar Khan with surgical precision.
The Indian Armed Forces used modern indigenous technology -- from long-range drones to guided munitions -- which made the strikes on terror camps highly effective as multiple terror bases used by groups such as Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), Hizbul Mujahideen, were destroyed successfully.
Drone training facilities
The Army has released a limited Expression of Interest to select vendors, seeking proposals for training aggregates aimed at creating advanced drone training facilities in 19 major establishments nationwide, The Indian Express report added.
The urgency is highlighted by the fact that the acquisition will be carried out under emergency revenue procurement.
According to the report, the plan covers multiple categories of drones, training simulators with allied infrastructure, and the setting up of 24×7 outdoor manoeuvre ranges and indoor training areas at all these Category A training establishments.
Apart from just training, these facilities will also provide certification to all ranks of the Army.
About 1,000 drones of various categories – with ranges varying from 200 m to 50 km – will be acquired as part of the drone training infrastructure under this deal.
As part of the plan, over 800 drones spanning nano to medium categories, 140 FPV first-person view (FPV) drones, and close to 600 training simulators complete with compatible equipment would be acquired.
Earlier, defence minister Rajnath Singh had also highlighted the growing role of drones, saying they are now being deployed in areas where large equipment cannot reach.
"In today’s era, it is essential to understand the importance of drones and to effectively incorporate them into war tactics," he stated.
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