Surveillance boost: Army to raise ‘Baaz Battalions’

The Indian Army has set up special ‘Baaz Battalions’ to significantly increase its Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) capability, defense sources said, a move aimed at strengthening battlefield surveillance, intelligence gathering and rapid response through a dedicated drone force.

Sources in the Indian Army confirmed the development and said the new battalions will be built on the Army’s existing RPA Flights and will comprise a specialist pool of trained personnel responsible for operating and managing Remote Piloted Aircraft systems.

Sources said the decision to establish Baaz Battalions was driven by operational lessons learned from recent border clashes along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China, as well as the successful use of drone capabilities during Operation Sindoor against Pakistan in May last year.

Baaz Battalions will be designed to centralize the Army’s expanding drone capabilities and manage the entire lifecycle of RPA operations. This special structure is expected to provide front-line units with advanced air surveillance tools and real-time intelligence, enabling faster and more informed decisions during operations.