Army tests its new tank unit ‘Shaurya’ drone squadron

New Delhi: Drawing on the experience of Operation Sindoor, the Indian Army is equipping its armored regiments with a dedicated drone unit dubbed ‘Shaurya Squadron’. These units are being integrated into tank formations to support surveillance, precision strike, electronic warfare and logistics, adding drone capabilities directly to armored operations.Just a few days ago, the Army tested a Shaurya squadron in a real-life combat environment at Babina Field Firing Range near Jhansi, where Southern Army Commander Lieutenant General Dhiraj Seth witnessed a UAV squadron in action. The 13-day exercise, led by the White Tiger Division under the Sudarshan Chakra Corps, demonstrated how drone support can add an extra punch to the firepower of an armored regiment.Southern Command said on DayAn Army source told toy “So far, 5-6 Shaurya squadrons have been activated”. “However, the concept of UAV unit integration is still in its infancy and requires more trials to be refined. Formal raising of such units will occur after official approval is obtained,” the source said.The Army has one of the largest main battle tank fleets in the world, with 63 armored regiments. Each regiment is usually equipped with about 45 tanks, making up a total fleet of about 4,500 tanks, including the T-90S Bhishma, upgraded T-72 M1 “Ajeya” and Arjun MK1/MK1A variants.Having learned lessons from drone-centric global conflicts, including the Russia-Ukraine war, the Indian Army is gradually promoting the institutionalization of UAV or drone capabilities across the services.On the infantry side, the Army last year formed an Ashni platoon equipped with surveillance drones and loitering munitions for tactical ISR (intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance) and strike missions. On the artillery front, the Divyastra battery has been modified to integrate drone-based targeting with conventional artillery for faster, more autonomous engagement cycles.