Indian Army Set For Baaz Battalion: How Dedicated Drone Units Will Change Warfare

Last Updated:July 01, 2026, 15:45 IST

The Baaz Battalions are being designed as specialised, standalone formations focused entirely on unmanned aerial operations.

The Indian Army is taking its biggest step yet towards integrating drones into frontline warfare. It has begun raising specialised Baaz Battalions – dedicated formations that will be responsible for persistent aerial surveillance, precision strikes and drone warfare across different theatres.

The move, announced by Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi, comes over a year after Operation Sindoor, where drones, loitering munitions and counter-drone systems emerged as one of the defining features of military operations. The operation reinforced a lesson already evident from the Russia-Ukraine war and recent West Asian conflicts: modern wars are increasingly fought not just by soldiers on the ground but also by unmanned systems in the skies.

Unlike the Army’s existing drone detachments, the Baaz Battalions are being designed as specialised, standalone formations focused entirely on unmanned aerial operations.

Why Is Army Creating Baaz Battalions?

Until now, drones in the Indian Army were largely operated by smaller units attached to infantry, artillery or other formations. Their primary tasks included reconnaissance, surveillance and helping direct artillery fire.

However, recent conflicts have demonstrated that drones today perform far more complex roles. They can carry out deep reconnaissance behind enemy lines, destroy tanks, bunkers and artillery using precision-guided munitions, attack targets as loitering munitions or “suicide drones", conduct swarm attacks using multiple drones simultaneously. The assist in battle damage assessment after strikes, and work alongside electronic warfare systems to locate and jam enemy communications.

The Army believes these expanding roles require dedicated organisations with specialised personnel, equipment and command structures rather than treating drones as just another support capability.

What Are Baaz Battalions?

The new Baaz Battalions will be specialised drone warfare units capable of operating across the full spectrum of unmanned aerial operations.

According to Army officials, these battalions will undertake persistent Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR), long-range aerial surveillance, precision drone strikes, operation of loitering munitions, coordination with artillery and missile units, integration with electronic warfare and counter-drone systems, and support for infantry formations during offensive and defensive operations.

Each battalion is expected to field multiple categories of unmanned aerial systems instead of relying on a single drone type.

How Are Baaz Battalions Different From Ashini?

Although both involve drones, they operate at very different levels. Ashini is a tactical drone initiative introduced by the Army to push drones closer to frontline troops. Under this model, infantry battalions receive smaller drone detachments that help commanders conduct local surveillance, observe enemy movement and improve battlefield awareness over relatively short distances.

The Baaz Battalions, on the other hand, are much larger, independent formations dedicated entirely to drone warfare.

Ashini gives frontline soldiers their own “eyes in the sky", while Baaz Battalions are designed to become the Army’s specialised drone combat force.

The creation of Baaz Battalions marks a significant shift in how the Indian Army intends to fight future wars. Rather than treating drones merely as surveillance tools, the Army is building dedicated formations that can carry out intelligence gathering, precision strikes and sustained unmanned operations as an integral part of combat.

While Ashini equips frontline troops with tactical drones to enhance battlefield awareness, Baaz Battalions represent the next level – a specialised drone warfare capability designed to operate across entire theatres of conflict. As lessons from Operation Sindoor and recent global conflicts continue to reshape military doctrine, drones are no longer a supporting asset, they are becoming one of the decisive arms of modern warfare.

About the Author

Pragati Ratti

Pragati is a News Editor at news18.com. Having headed the Business and Viral sections, Pragati now ideates, writes and edits long-form features and articles on national and global affairs. She ensures...Read More

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