'Eagle On Every Arm': Indigenous Combat Drones Prove Their Mettle During Exercise Trishul

Last Updated:November 04, 2025, 16:17 IST

Southern Command continues to integrate innovation, indigenous defence industry collaboration, and tactical application, forging a Tech-Enabled, Future-Ready Force.

Under the guiding mantra “Eagle on Every Arm,” the Command has established a robust, in-house framework for the design, development, and large-scale production of Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS).

Field-tested under realistic and contested combat conditions during Exercise Trishul, a new generation of indigenously developed combat drones has demonstrated exceptional precision, endurance, and mission flexibility. Designed and produced within the Indian Army’s own innovation ecosystem, these drones represent a major milestone in translating the Atmanirbhar Bharat vision into operational capability on the battlefield.

The successful trials showcased the Southern Command’s growing technological prowess and commitment to building a tech-enabled, future-ready force. Under the guiding mantra “Eagle on Every Arm," the Command has established a robust, in-house framework for the design, development, and large-scale production of Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS). These systems are tailored to meet the Army’s evolving tactical requirements across Surveillance, Precision Strike, and Electronic Warfare domains.

The initiative reflects a strategic shift in India’s defence approach — from being a technology importer to becoming a self-reliant innovator. The Southern Command’s Drone Hubs are at the heart of this transformation. These hubs integrate the technical expertise of the Corps of Electronics and Mechanical Engineers (EME) with the manufacturing agility of India’s Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). Together, they are developing platforms capable of enhancing situational awareness, striking accuracy, and electronic dominance in modern conflicts.

The indigenously built drones have undergone rigorous validation, proving their resilience and reliability even in electronically jammed or hostile environments. Their performance during Exercise Trishul not only met but exceeded operational expectations, underscoring the Army’s capacity to harness indigenous technology for mission-critical operations. The field results confirmed that these systems can deliver consistent performance under the pressures of real-world battlefield conditions.

This initiative is emblematic of the broader Atmanirbhar Bharat drive championed by the Government of India, which seeks to empower domestic defence manufacturing and reduce strategic dependence on foreign suppliers. For the Army, this self-reliant approach ensures faster innovation cycles, cost efficiency, and greater adaptability to local operational terrains.

Drone Prowess During Operation Sindoor

Drones played a critical role during Operation Sindoor — working both offensively and defensively, and underscoring the growing importance of indigenous unmanned aerial systems in India’s defence operations.

The Indian forces had deployed domestically-manufactured loitering drones (sometimes called “suicide drones"), which carried warheads of 5-10 kg and had a range of about 100 km.

These drones enabled India to hit target sets in cross-border or contested environments with greater precision, thereby supporting the strategic message behind Operation Sindoor, meant to destroy terror camps in Pakistan and PoK.

In addition to strike drones, surveillance drones carried out real-time reconnaissance and target acquisition. Drones penetrated about 2 km across the Line of Control to monitor enemy troop movement and detect threats despite GPS/electronic-warfare interference.

During Operation Sindoor, drones served as both the “eyes" in the sky and the “swords", striking enemy infrastructure.

Akash Sharma

Akash Sharma, Defence Correspondent, CNN-News 18, covers the Ministry of Defence and Ministry of Railways. In addition, he also follows developments in the national capital. With an extensive experience coverin...Read More

Akash Sharma, Defence Correspondent, CNN-News 18, covers the Ministry of Defence and Ministry of Railways. In addition, he also follows developments in the national capital. With an extensive experience coverin...

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