Explainer: Shaurya Squadrons – drone sub-units that enhance armoured regiments surveillance, strike capability

In the hinterlands of Uttar Pradesh, the Indian Army has unveiled its latest technology-enabled war fighting platform – the Shaurya Squadrons – drone-equipped sub-units integrated into armoured regiments that enhance surveillance, recce capability and precision-strike capability in the tactical domain.

“As part of Exercise Amogh Jwala, the #IndianArmy exercised #ShauryaSquadron - a modern tactical entity pioneered by the #WhiteTigerDivision under the aegis of #SudarshanChakraCorps,” Headquarters Southern Command said on its X handle.

The new concept was demonstrated during Exercise Amogh Jwala a major 13-day drill conducted by the 31 Armoured Division at the Babina Field Firing Ranges near Jhansi in March to validate multi-domain, high-intensity mechanised operations by integrating armoured units, attack helicopters, fighter aircraft and drones. It tested real-time surveillance, precision targeting, electronic warfare (EW), air defence and counter-drone capabilities.

Tested under realistic battlefield conditions, the squadron practiced its capabilities as a modern combat element by seamlessly integrating precision strike with deep surveillance and close combat reconnaissance. Designed to seek further, strike deeper and stay longer, the Shaurya Squadron demonstrated its ability to deliver real-time reconnaissance combined with swift and precise strike responses.

“The exercise provided valuable operational insights, underscoring the squadron’s potential to significantly enhance the effectiveness of reconnaissance in the modern battlefield,” the Command said.

The move to induct drones down to the lowest field level is to compress the sensor-to-shooter loop from “minutes to seconds” for faster targeting and engagement. With drones being the eyes and ears of armoured regiments, the need for tanks, vehicles and foot soldiers carrying out recce will largely be done away, thereby reducing the risk of ambush or being exposed to the enemy and thus improving survivability.

The move to raise Shaurya Squadrons comes in the wake of the Army raising Ashni Platoons, which are sub-units equipped with different types of surveillance and attack drones that now form an integral part of all infantry battalions.

Shaurya and Ashni units comprise 25-30 troops specially trained in drone and counter-drone operations at the tactical level in their immediate vicinity. These have a mix of surveillance drones, attack drones and loitering munitions, giving frontline commanders real-time targeting information and precision-strike capability without having to route requests up the chain of command. This provides them a great deal of operational independence, flexibility and lethality.

Unmanned Aerial Systems and drones, top military commanders say, are being integrated across all arms and services and mark a significant doctrinal shift in how the Army will fight future wars. Besides precision strikes and surveillance, electronic warfare, engineer tasks such as obstacle breaching, mine laying and clearance, logistics and supply and medical assistance are tasks that drones would carry out.

The Army has around 65 armoured regiments, each comprising 45 tanks such as the Russian origin T-72, T-90 and the indigenous Arjun. In addition, the Army’s mechanised forces include the Mechanised Infantry Regiment with 27 battalions and the Brigade of the Guards with 23 battalions. These are equipped with the BMP-2/3 mechanised infantry combat vehicle that carry a complement of 6-8 combat equipped soldiers besides the vehicle’s crew of commander, gunner and driver.

The concept of the Shaurya Squadrons, army officers said, is still evolving and an analysis of the performance of the first such unit in its maiden field exercise will identify areas for further refinement and innovations before it is institutionalised. The army has already conducted several field drills involving the Ashni Platoons.

Also interesting is the Army’s recent move to convert its ageing T-72 tanks into remotely controlled autonomous armoured fighting vehicles to enhance their employability beyond their expected retirement from 2030 onwards and increase the Army’s capability to conduct high-risk missions in a technology-intensive, fast-paced environment. Such platforms, if coupled with drones, can dramatically enhance armoured warfare capabilities, while also reducing risk to life, defence experts said.

The Armoured Corps is also equipping tanks with different types of counter-drone measures. Requests for proposals have been issued by the Ministry of Defence for retrofitting tanks with systems to detect drones and neutralise them by soft or hard kill options.