Indian Army to Raise Dedicated Drone Battalions for Enhanced Surveillance
The Indian Army is establishing specialised 'Baaz Battalions' to bolster its Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) capabilities, defence sources have confirmed. The move is intended to strengthen battlefield surveillance, intelligence gathering, and rapid response through a dedicated drone force.
The new battalions will be built upon the Army's existing RPA Flights and will consist of a specialist pool of trained personnel responsible for operating and managing RPA systems. This centralises the Army's expanding drone capabilities and aims to handle the entire lifecycle of RPA operations.
Sources said the decision was driven by operational lessons from recent border standoffs along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China, as well as the successful employment of drone capabilities during Operation Sindoor against Pakistan in May last year. The Baaz Battalions are expected to provide frontline units with advanced aerial surveillance tools and real-time intelligence, enabling faster and more informed decision-making during operations.
