'Central brain' for drone operations: How Baaz Battalions will transform the Indian Army

The Indian Army is taking a major step towards preparing for future wars by raising specialised Baaz Battalions, dedicated units that will operate drones and other unmanned aerial systems.

These formations will focus on surveillance, intelligence gathering, precision strikes and drone warfare across different operational theatres.

The move comes more than a year after Operation Sindoor highlighted the growing importance of drones, loitering munitions and counter-drone systems in modern military operations. The Russia-Ukraine war and recent conflicts in West Asia have also shown that future battlefields will depend as much on unmanned systems as on soldiers and conventional weapons.

Unlike the Army's existing drone detachments attached to infantry units, the Baaz Battalions will function as specialised formations dedicated entirely to unmanned aerial operations.

A 'central brain' for drone operations

Speaking to Firstpost, Major General AK Siwach (Retd.) described the Baaz Battalions as dedicated Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) formations that will serve as the Army's "central brain" for managing its growing fleet of unmanned systems.

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According to him, the battalions will centralise the entire lifecycle of military drones—from operations and maintenance to training and data management. They will provide frontline troops with advanced aerial surveillance, real-time intelligence and faster response capabilities across different operational areas.

General Siwach said the units will also process the huge volume of information generated by different types of drones, including long-range unmanned aerial vehicles such as the MQ-9B. This will help commanders make quicker and better-informed decisions during military operations.

Lessons from recent conflicts

The decision to raise Baaz Battalions is based on lessons learnt from recent military operations. General Siwach said the Army's experience during the Line of Actual Control (LAC) standoffs with China and the extensive use of drones during Operation Sindoor against Pakistan underlined the need for specialised drone formations.

Unlike small drone teams deployed with infantry units, the Baaz Battalions will focus on deep-penetration reconnaissance, long-duration border surveillance and identifying strategic targets well inside operational areas.

As the Army rapidly expands its drone inventory, these dedicated battalions will also create a specialised cadre responsible for standardising training, maintenance and equipment management.

Part of a larger military transformation

General Siwach said the Baaz Battalions are part of the Army's broader "Decade of Transformation" programme, which aims to prepare the force for technology-driven warfare. The restructuring also includes the induction of Bhairav light commando battalions, Rudra brigades and Shaktibaan artillery regiments, reflecting a shift towards network-centric and autonomous warfare.

He said the new formations will give the Army an asymmetrical advantage by allowing it to carry out high-risk missions such as counter-infiltration, counter-terrorism operations and deep surveillance without exposing soldiers to direct danger.

However, General Siwach added that a larger drone fleet also creates new security challenges. Along with expanding its unmanned capabilities, India will have to strengthen counter-drone systems such as the Bhargavastra to protect its airspace from enemy drones.