Indian Army tests new Shaurya drone squadrons for armoured regiments at Babina

Key facts

• The Indian Army (IA) is equipping its armoured regiments with dedicated drone units known as Shaurya Squadrons to support surveillance, precision strikes, electronic warfare, and logistics.
• A 13-day drill was conducted at the Babina Field Firing Ranges near Jhansi to demonstrate the integration of drone assets with mechanised forces and attack helicopters.
• The exercise was led by the White Tiger Division under the Sudarshan Chakra Corps and witnessed by the Southern Army Commander, Lt Gen Dhiraj Seth.
• The Shaurya Squadrons aim to compress the sensor-to-shooter cycle and enhance battlefield awareness by providing real-time surveillance for tank formations.
• Approximately five to six Shaurya Squadrons have been activated so far, though formal raising will occur after official approval is received.
• The IA operates 63 armoured regiments with a total fleet of roughly 4,500 tanks, including T-90S Bhishma, upgraded T-72 M1 Ajeya, and Arjun MK1/MK1A variants.
• The initiative draws lessons from Operation Sindoor and drone-centric global conflicts such as the Russia-Ukraine war to institutionalise Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) capabilities.
• The IA has previously raised Ashni platoons in the infantry for tactical intelligence and Divyastra batteries in the artillery to integrate UAV-based targeting with conventional guns.