New Delhi (Rajeev Sharma): In a significant move to modernise combat preparedness, the Indian Army has rolled out a new initiative aimed at training its personnel in drone operations, marking a shift towards a more tech-enabled force. The program, titled ‘Eagle in the Arm’, intends to make drone handling a basic skill for soldiers—on par with the use of conventional weapons.
Tech Integration at the Frontline
As part of this transformation, the Army is expanding its drone fleet for use in various roles including surveillance, tactical support, logistics, and emergency response. Soldiers are being trained to incorporate unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) into their routine operational duties, enabling faster decision-making and wider area coverage in complex terrains.
The development was highlighted during Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi’s visit today to a forward training centre in Likabali, Siang district of Arunachal Pradesh. There, he observed hands-on drone training and system integration being carried out with active troops stationed in the region.
Building a Future-Ready Force
Officials say the long-term objective is to ensure that every soldier can operate a drone effectively, giving them an extended line of sight and a tactical edge on the battlefield. Unlike previous reliance on specialised units, this model promotes decentralised drone capability—allowing even small detachments to deploy UAVs when needed.
Drone use will be tailored to each unit’s role: infantry for surveillance and tactical maneuvers, logistics units for payload delivery, and medical teams for casualty evacuation in hard-to-reach zones.
Strengthening Air Defence Simultaneously
Alongside the push to train soldiers in drone operations, the Army is also enhancing its defensive posture against aerial threats. A new layer of counter-drone systems is being deployed across formations, capable of detecting and neutralising hostile UAVs before they can pose a threat. This two-pronged strategy ensures that both offensive and defensive drone capabilities are strengthened in parallel.
These systems played a key role during Operation Sindoor, a recent large-scale exercise held near the western front. The operation underscored the critical role drones now play in real-time battlefield engagement and threat neutralisation.
Drone Training Embedded in Core Curriculum
To institutionalise drone warfare across all ranks, the Army has established dedicated training modules at premier military institutions such as the Indian Military Academy (IMA) in Dehradun, the Infantry School in Mhow, and the Officers’ Training Academy in Chennai. These programs aim to embed drone proficiency into the Army’s culture, beginning from the earliest stages of officer and soldier training.
This approach ensures that drone literacy is no longer confined to a few specialist units but becomes a core competency across all branches.
New Units Taking Shape
To support this operational overhaul, the Army is raising new specialised platoons and batteries within its regular structure. Infantry battalions will soon include dedicated drone platoons, while artillery regiments will integrate loitering munitions and anti-drone defences into their ranks. These combined units, known as ‘Divyastra Batteries’, will bring together indigenous drone technology and layered air defence systems to create highly adaptable fighting forces.
A Strategic Shift in Doctrine
The Army’s pivot to drone-centric operations reflects the changing nature of modern warfare, where unmanned systems have become indispensable. Rather than treating drones as auxiliary tools, the Army is positioning them as central assets—extending a soldier’s reach, improving situational awareness, and enabling more agile battlefield responses.
With ‘Eagle in the Arm’, the Indian Army is not just adopting new equipment—it’s reshaping its battlefield doctrine to ensure that every soldier is combat-ready in a digital age.
