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In a landmark announcement that signals a paradigm shift in military aviation and indigenous manufacturing, Chief of Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi has revealed that the Indian Army is transitioning from a mere consumer of unmanned aerial systems to a large-scale producer.
Speaking ahead of Army Day 2026, the Army Chief confirmed that every military command is now actively manufacturing or procuring thousands of combat-capable drones to bolster self-reliance in defence technology.
Decentralised Production at Scale
General Dwivedi outlined an ambitious "decentralised innovation" model, moving away from traditional, centralised procurement processes that often take years.Under this new initiative, each of the Army’s operational commands has been empowered to manufacture or induct approximately 5,000 unmanned aerial systems (UAS). This collective effort is creating a vast, distributed arsenal tailored specifically to local threat perceptions and geographical realities.
"We have taken a clear decision to manufacture as many drones as possible in-house," General Dwivedi stated. "Each command is either already building or is in the process of fielding around 5,000 drones. These are not standard, off-the-shelf solutions but bespoke systems designed for our unique operational environments."
Beyond Surveillance: A Focus on Deep Strike
Clarifying the nature of these platforms, the Army Chief emphasised that the focus is strictly on military-grade combat systems rather than simple hobbyist or short-range reconnaissance quadcopters.The new fleet includes long-range tactical strike drones and loitering munitions capable of operating deep within contested airspace.
According to recent reports, the Army has successfully test-fired indigenous drones with strike ranges exceeding 100 kilometres. These platforms are designed to execute precision strikes on high-value targets, degrade enemy air defence networks, and maintain persistent surveillance over hostile territory without endangering manned aircraft or special forces personnel.
New Formations and Specialised Units
To effectively integrate this massive influx of technology, the Army is reportedly raising specialised units.Open-source intelligence suggests the formation of "Bhairav Battalions," "ASHNI Drone Platoons," and "Shaktibaan Regiments," which are dedicated to handling these advanced systems.
This restructuring aims to embed drone warfare capabilities directly into infantry and mechanised columns rather than keeping them as isolated support assets.
Terrain-Specific Engineering
A key advantage of this command-led production model is the ability to customise hardware for India’s diverse frontiers:- High-Altitude Commands: Are prioritising endurance platforms engineered to function in the thin air and sub-zero temperatures of the Himalayas.
- Desert Formations: Are focusing on systems with extended ranges and optical stability for vast, open terrain surveillance.
- Eastern Commands: Are developing stealthy drones with low acoustic signatures, optimised for jungle warfare and reduced visibility.
A Doctrine of Mass and Overwhelm
The strategic intent behind this "mass-drone doctrine" is to overwhelm adversary defences through saturation.By fielding tens of thousands of systems—ranging from electronic warfare and communications relay drones to decoy and armed strike variants—the Indian Army aims to ensure persistent situational awareness and strike capability across the entire depth of the battlefield.
General Dwivedi’s announcement underscores a critical evolution in Indian military strategy: by internalising production, the Army ensures it can rapidly replace battlefield losses, adapt to changing enemy tactics in real-time, and maintain the element of technological surprise in future conflicts.
