Army trains 50,000 personnel in drone operations, calls it battlefield necessity

With the proliferation of drones across the battlefield, the Armed Forces have integrated UAS capabilities into every arm and service for roles, including attack, surveillance, reconnaissance, electronic warfare, engineering operations and logistics.

Presiding over ARTRAC’s investiture ceremony at its headquarters in Shimla, Lt Gen Sharma said 15 establishments are being developed as Centres of Expertise to absorb 33 niche technologies by 2030.

He also highlighted the ‘Vidur Vakta’ (Red Teaming) initiative, which is being institutionalised across the Army by 2027. The initiative involves dedicated teams simulating enemy tactics to critically assess operational plans, evaluate battlefield strategies and anticipate adversary responses.

The Army commander further underscored ARTRAC’s 57 initiatives aligned with the five pillars of the ‘Decade of Transformation’, along with lessons drawn from recent conflicts, including Operation Sindoor in May 2025.

On the occasion, he conferred the GOC-in-C Army Training Command Unit Citation on four Category-A training establishments — Army Air Defence College, Armoured Corps Centre and School, Mechanised Infantry Centre and School and Rashtriya Indian Military College — as well as two affiliated units: 269 Engineer Regiment and 665 Army Aviation Squadron (Recce and Observation).

Financial Excellence Awards were presented to the Combat Army Aviation Training School, Junior Leaders Academy and College of Military Engineering. The Digitisation and Automation Excellence Award was awarded to the Military College of Telecommunication Engineering and the Mechanised Infantry Centre and School.

In addition, 11 Technical Excellence Awards were conferred on innovators for their contributions at the pan-India Army-level competition, while 16 personnel received GOC-in-C Commendation Cards for distinguished service.