One year on from Operation Sindoor, the Indian Army stands at the forefront of drone warfare innovation. On Kargil Vijay Diwas, Chief of Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi unveiled the ‘Ashni Platoon’ initiative—a promise now fulfilled with deployments across all formations.
The training rollout has been methodical. Phase one delivered basic drone handling to every infantryman at unit levels. Elite selections from these cohorts proceed to advanced formation training, blending simulator sessions with live field maneuvers over obstacles.
Specialized centers train 20-25 soldiers per batch for up to three weeks, mastering surveillance, FPV, armed, and logistic drones. The program extends to personnel from other services, fostering inter-branch expertise.
Operation Sindoor highlighted the edge: Indian drones surveilled and struck, while counter-systems downed adversary threats. Building on this, the Army has embedded ‘Ashni Platoons’ in every battalion, ramped up counter-drone acquisitions, and stood up training hubs at premier institutions including IMA Dehradun, Mhow’s Infantry School, and OTA Chennai.
The ‘Eagle in the Arm’ vision equips soldiers to integrate drones seamlessly into operations—be it combat patrols, reconnaissance, supply drops, or casualty extractions. Counter-drone drills ensure comprehensive readiness. With nodes multiplying and procurements surging, the force eyes full infantry mastery by 2027, redefining ground dominance in an aerial age.
