Facing two fronts, Indian Army drops the old playbook and gets agile with missiles, drones and commandos
On Kargil Vijay Diwas in Drass, Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi announced a set of changes aimed at making the Army "a future-ready force." The announcement comes weeks after India responded militarily to cross-border hostilities from Pakistan in May.
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"We gave them (Pakistan) a chance for peace but they acted with cowardice. We then answered with only valour...Operation Sindoor is our resolve, our message, and our response," said General Dwivedi. He added, "With the unwavering trust of the countrymen and the strategic autonomy granted by the govt, the Army delivered a well-planned, precise, and decisive response."
Rudra Brigades: All-arms units for the frontlines
The most significant change is the creation of Rudra brigades — permanent all-arms combat units that will include infantry, tanks, artillery, mechanised forces, Special Forces, and drones.
These brigades are drawn from the existing pool of over 250 single-arm brigades, each made up of more than 3,000 soldiers. Traditionally, these units came together only during wartime or joint exercises. Now, they will operate as cohesive, self-sufficient units, stationed together in both peace and war.
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A senior Army officer told
The Times of India
, "Now, the ones being converted to Rudra brigades, tailor-made for specific areas and tasks along the borders, will have all combat elements and be permanently deployed together in peace and war. Their re-structuring has been validated and approved. Two Rudra brigades have already been set up."
This shift is a partial realisation of a long-discussed plan to create Integrated Battle Groups (IBGs), larger formations of 5,000–6,000 soldiers combining multiple combat arms. That proposal is still awaiting full government approval, but the Rudra model marks a move in that direction.
Bhairav Battalions: Fast strike units for border action
Alongside Rudra brigades, the Army is also forming new Bhairav light commando battalions. These units are intended to operate close to the border with speed and precision. They will support the existing Para-Special Forces and Para (Airborne) battalions, which focus on deep-penetration missions.
The Bhairav units are being raised from regular infantry, and they are being equipped with updated weapons, tech and drones. The target is to form 40 to 50 such battalions in phases.
"The agile and lethal special forces Bhairav units are ready to surprise the enemy on the borders," said General Dwivedi, hinting that some units are already operational, as reported by TOI.
Drone platoons and smart artillery in every battalion
The Army is also rearming for modern warfare. Every infantry battalion — over 400 of them — will be equipped with a dedicated drone platoon. This move reflects the growing dominance of drone warfare, which has been seen shifting the balance in conflicts worldwide.
Artillery is getting a significant overhaul too. New 'Shaktibaan' regiments are being introduced with 'Divyastra' batteries — a combination of surveillance assets and loitering munitions. These are designed to track and strike moving targets in real time.
"Every infantry battalion will have drone platoons, while the firepower of the artillery has been multiplied many times through Divyastra batteries and loiter munitions batteries," said General Dwivedi.
Air defence systems get a major boost
The Army's Air Defence (AAD) branch is also expanding its capabilities. Two new regiments of Akash Prime surface-to-air missiles are being deployed for use in high-altitude areas bordering China. These systems are designed to intercept aircraft, helicopters, and drones up to 25 km away.
Additionally, three regiments of the newer Quick Reaction Surface-to-Air Missiles (QRSAM) are being procured at a cost of Rs 36,000 crore. These will be shared between the Army and the Indian Air Force. With a 30 km range, the QRSAMs will provide mobile, short-range defence against aerial threats.
The combined systems will reinforce India's multi-layered air defence network, which was tested during
Operation Sindoor
. According to Army sources, this network played a key role in stopping drone and missile strikes from Pakistan, including Turkish-origin drones and Chinese-supplied missiles.
Operation Sindoor and the push for change
Operation Sindoor, conducted from 7 to 10 May, was a response to coordinated attempts by Pakistan to breach Indian territory using drones and missiles. It was during these clashes that the gaps in India's traditional military structure became more visible. The reliance on separate arms that operate independently often slowed down response times.
This experience has pushed the Army to embrace a more integrated model. Instead of relying on traditional infantry-heavy formations, the focus is now on flexible, tech-enabled units that can respond quickly and decisively.
At present, these changes are being implemented without increasing the total strength of the Army, which stands at around 11.5 lakh personnel.
India's military is clearly shifting gears. The Rudra and Bhairav units are part of a broader plan to create a more agile force that is ready for both border skirmishes and full-scale conflict. By embedding drones and smart weaponry deep into its formations, the Army is adapting to a battlefield that is no longer defined just by boots on the ground.
The strategy is simple: fight smarter, move faster, and stay ready.
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