Indian Army to Induct Dedicated Drone Platoons Across Combat Units

The Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Command, Lieutenant General Manoj Kumar Katiyar, General on 26^th February 2026, said the Indian Army is raising dedicated 'Ashin' drone platoons across infantry, artillery and armoured regiments to reinforce drone warfare competencies.

According to the CO, specialized 'Bhairav' units will be tasked with deep operations in hostile territory, adding that the Army has rationalized its formations to recognize the growing standing of drones in contemporary warfare.

He said that drone use is extremely important. Therefore, drone usage is being integrated across all units, right down to the smallest sub-units. The dedicated 'Ashin' drone platoons within infantry battalions have been created and similar specialized platoons will be raised in every regiment. Stressing operational readiness, he said that future conflicts might need swift action to protect troops and conduct precision strikes.

These specialized battalions will further enhance the Army’s strike capability and special operations capability.  In the near future, small, agile teams that can operate independently and penetrate deep into enemy territory will be required, and the 'e Bhairav' units will be employed for processes deep inside enemy territories.

Lt Gen Katiyar also revealed that most drones on display were manufactured in Western Command workshops.

The Western Command has started fabricating drones within the Army itself and is producing them on a large scale. The Western Command understands its operational requirements and technology needs and can build them more efficiently in its workshops. Talking about Operation Sindoor, the Army Commander repeated that India had targeted terrorist bases, and when retaliated against, struck military and air bases in response.

 Source: Business Standard