Army rolls out initiative to make all soldiers drone-ready

The Army has accelerated the induction of drones and counter-drone systems under a new initiative called ‘eagle in the arm’, which aims to train every soldier to use a drone just as he is taught to use a weapon.

Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi today visited one such facility — a drone lab at Likabali in Siang district of Arunachal Pradesh — where drones have been deployed and soldiers are being trained. Officials said the plan is to make each soldier capable of operating a drone, much like carrying his own rifle.

Depending on the unit’s role, drones will be used for combat, surveillance, logistics and even medical evacuation. Counter-drone measures are being inducted in parallel to create a layered system capable of neutralising enemy unmanned platforms.

To meet the training requirement, drone centres have been set up at premier academies such as the Indian Military Academy (Dehradun), Infantry School (Mhow) and Officers’ Training Academy (Chennai). The aim is to embed drone operations as a standard capability across all arms of the Army, officials said.

The Army is pursuing a dual thrust: arming soldiers with drones while simultaneously strengthening counter-drone defences. That drones are no longer niche but “essential elements of the battlefield” was evident during Operation Sindoor with Pakistan (May 7–10).

By institutionalising training, raising more drone units and aligning force structures, the Army intends to ensure that the “soldier of tomorrow” carries a drone that extends his vision, reach and power on the battlefield.

In July, Gen Dwivedi, in his address at the Kargil Vijay Diwas celebrations in Drass, had announced that every infantry battalion will have a dedicated drone platoon, while artillery regiments will be equipped with counter-drone systems and loiter munitions.

These dedicated units are being raised as ‘Divyastra’ batteries — infantry battalions equipped with drones and indigenous air defence systems. The Army has a layered air defence system that showed it prowess during Operation Sindoor.