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

Published 1 July 2026 · india

Indian Army Set For Baaz Battalion: How Dedicated Drone Units Will Change Warfare Published By, Last Updated: July 01, 2026, 15:45 IST The Baaz Battalions

Indian Army Set For Baaz Battalion: How Dedicated Drone Units Will Change Warfare Published By, Last Updated: July 01, 2026, 15:45 IST The Baaz Battalions are being designed as specialised, standalone formations focused entirely on unmanned aerial operations. Rapid Read The Baaz Battalions are larger, independent formations dedicated entirely to drone warfare. (AI generated image) 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.