During the 13-day high-tempo integrated mechanised manoeuvre exercise conducted by the 31 Armoured Division at the Babina Field Firing Ranges near Jhansi in March, the Shaurya Squadrons of the Indian Army showcased their combat capabilities.
Shaurya Squadrons are dedicated drone units being inducted into the Indian Army’s armoured regiments, designed to enhance tank warfare with real-time surveillance and precision strike capabilities. Each squadron comprises 20–25 trained personnel who operate a mix of surveillance drones, attack drones, swarm systems, FPV drones, and loitering munitions.
Pioneered by the White Tiger Division of the Sudarshan Chakra Corps, the Shaurya Squadron, which seeks to "see farther, strike deeper, and maintain continuous battlefield presence" by compressing the sensor-to-shooter cycle, represents a contemporary tactical model for multi-domain operations.
Inspired by the AirLand Battle concept, it integrates air and land capabilities across the depth of the battlespace, combining surveillance, manoeuvre, and precision fires to enable faster decision-making and deliver decisive combat effects.
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Traditionally, tanks rely on line-of-sight and limited reconnaissance. However, with the integration of Shaurya Squadrons, commanders will have better real-time battlefield awareness far beyond what a tank crew can see. They also ensure that tanks are less exposed to threats like loitering munitions, anti-tank guided missiles (ATGMs), and hidden enemy positions.
A practical step toward integrating land, air, and electronic domains at the unit level, Shaurya Squadrons act as a bridge to next-gen battlefield concepts rather than relying solely on legacy platforms, as modern warfare has shifted to AI, swarms, and autonomous systems
“The Shaurya Squadrons will be equipped with swarm drones and first-person view (FPV) drones for real-time surveillance and precision strikes against armour and logistics targets,” The New Indian Express had quoted a source as saying, adding that "The aim is to compress the sensor-to-shooter cycle and push drone capability down to the unit level for faster targeting and engagement.”
The Southern Command of the Indian Army, in a tweet, said during the exercise, the Shaurya Squadron "demonstrated the seamless integration of real-time surveillance assets with mechanised forces, attack helicopters, swarm strikes and coordinated firepower, enhancing battlefield awareness, compressing the sensor-to-shooter cycle and enabling swift, decisive battlefield response."
At the conclusion of the exercise, the Army Commander hailed the formation for demonstrating an innovative tactical capability in line with the Indian Army’s shift toward integrated, technology-driven warfare. During his interaction with the squadron, he urged all ranks to remain professionally agile, technologically adept, and operationally aligned to deliver decisive outcomes across the full spectrum of multi-domain operations.