The Indian Army has begun fielding Shaurya Squadrons, dedicated drone sub-units embedded within armoured regiments. These units are designed to give tank commanders real-time surveillance, precision-strike support, and better battlefield awareness. The move marks a doctrinal shift towards integrating drones directly into tank formations and creating multi-domain combat units.
What Shaurya Squadrons Are
Shaurya Squadrons are compact drone teams placed inside armoured regiments. Each squadron has about 20 to 30 personnel trained in drone and counter-drone operations. They operate surveillance drones, attack drones, swarm drones, first-person view drones, and loitering munitions. Their role is to support tanks at the unit level without depending on slower command-chain requests.
Training And First Deployment
The first squadron was raised by the White Tiger Division under the Sudarshan Chakra Corps. It was tested during Exercise Amogh Jwala at the Babina Field Firing Ranges near Jhansi in Uttar Pradesh. The exercise assessed how drones can move with armoured formations and support combat operations in real time.
Operational Role In Armoured Warfare
These squadrons are being integrated with tanks such as the T-90 Bhishma, T-72 Ajeya, and Arjun Mk1A. Their functions include:
- Precision strikes using FPV drones and loitering munitions.
- Surveillance and target tracking for tank commanders.
- Mine-laying, obstacle breaching, and logistics support.
- Electronic warfare support, including signal jamming.
The aim is to improve survivability, speed of decision-making, and battlefield lethality.
Expansion Across Army Commands
The Army has already activated six Shaurya Squadrons, following the rollout of Ashni infantry drone platoons. The broader plan is to embed five to six drone-tank squads in every command. Ultimately, all 63 armoured regiments may receive dedicated drone sub-units. This will turn traditional tank formations into smarter, drone-integrated combat systems.
Last Modified: April 29, 2026