Indian Army Goes High-Tech: Drones to Boost Surveillance and Strike Power of Tank, Mechanised Infantry Units

For the Indian Army’s tank and mechanised infantry regiments, a new weapon system is on the cards: unmanned aircraft systems or simply, drones. Drones have become increasingly important in contemporary warfare. They were effectively used during the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict and both Russia and Ukraine are using drones for both surveillance and strikes with great success. What the drones will give to the tank and mechanised infantry regiments is “extended reach,” high-level sources said. It will mean that the regiments will know what is 40-50 km ahead of them, a major benefit. India’s 65+ tank regiments and the 50+ mechanised infantry regiments will know what threats are before them. As with infantry battalions, a group of the regiment’s soldiers—

about 30– will be trained in the use and maintenance of drones. Emergency procurement for the armed forces will continue till November 19 and 80 percent will go for buying drones and anti-drone systems. These will be bought from largely indigenous manufacturers.

New Deputy Chief of Army Staff

Lieutenant General Vipul Shinghal, currently in the Integrated Defence Staff in New Delhi, is likely to take over as deputy chief of army staff at the end of the year. An armoured corps officer who led a strike corps, he will be responsible from training and other important tasks. He takes over from Lieutenant General Rakesh Kapoor, who retires next month.