On Saturday, speaking at a press conference on the sidelines of the passing-out parade of the 150th course of the National Defence Academy (NDA) in Pune, Chief of Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi noted that the Indian Army is transforming itself into a future-ready force under the "Decade of Transformation."
He pointed out that the raising of drone battalions, Divyastra batteries, Shaktimaan regiments, Bhairav battalions, and other technology-enabled structures within the Army is part of this transformation.
Highlighting the evolving nature of warfare and the importance of drones on the battlefield, General Dwivedi said that ever since taking over as Army Chief, he has been talking about the concept of "Eagle on the Arm".
"This means every soldier should have an 'eagle' in their hand... Every soldier should have the capability to fly a drone. You have seen that in our academies and other places, training for this is ongoing, and simulators are available," he said.
Pointing out that future wars will be fought across land, air, sea, space, cyber, electromagnetic and cognitive domains, he said: "The Indian Army is fully conscious of these changes. We are transforming ourselves into a future-ready force under the Decade of Transformation, wherein the role of the younger generation will be pivotal. The raising of drone battalions, Divyastra batteries, Shaktimaan regiments, Bhairav battalions and other technology-enabled structures from within our resources is part of this transformation."
How does the 'eagle' make a soldier more effective?
The 'Eagle on the Arm' military doctrine envisions a future battlefield in which every soldier is equipped not only with a rifle or a similar weapon, but also with a drone that can be employed as an integral part of combat operations. Just as a gun is considered standard equipment, unmanned aerial systems are expected to become a regular tool in the hands of troops.
These drones could be used for reconnaissance, target acquisition, precision strikes, logistics support and even casualty evacuation.
At the same time, dedicated counter-drone systems are being inducted to protect troops from similar threats posed by adversaries.
This approach reflects the Army's recognition that drones have evolved from niche capabilities into indispensable assets in modern warfare.
By embedding drone operations into training, doctrine and force structures, the Army aims to create a new generation of soldiers capable of seamlessly integrating unmanned systems into battlefield operations.
In essence, the soldier of the future will carry not just a weapon but also an "eagle" that will dramatically enhance situational awareness, extend operational reach and increase effectiveness on the battlefield.
