India Project Shaktibaan: Modern war no longer looks like old movies with big tanks and loud guns fighting face to face. Wars will now depend more on computers software and smart flying machines. Drones will certainly play a big role in watching enemies and hitting targets.
To make this possible this the Indian Army has started a big plan called Project Shaktibaan. Under this plan the Army will create 15 to 20 special drone regiments. These units will focus on smart attacks and digital control instead of old style brute force fighting. Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi leads this change.
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Smart drones
When people hear the word regiment they often think of soldiers standing in lines or heavy artillery guns. A Shaktibaan regiment looks very different. These units come under the Regiment of Artillery but they mainly use drones instead of shells. Flying machines now do jobs that once needed cannons and rockets.
This change builds on an older system called the Divyastra Battery. That system used drones and computers to help guns aim better and hit targets more accurately. Divyastra showed that drones could support artillery.
With this system the Army can hit targets from as close as 5 km to almost 500 km away. Soldiers no longer need to stand near danger zones. The Army can strike far away while keeping its people safe. This saves lives and increases reach at the same time.
3 Types of Drones to Power Shaktibaan
Project Shaktibaan uses different kinds of drones for different jobs. One key type is swarm drones. These drones fly together like birds in a group. They talk to each other and move as one unit. If enemies destroy some drones the rest still continue the mission. This makes swarm attacks very hard to stop.
Another important tool is loitering munitions. Many people call them kamikaze drones. These drones can stay in the air for hours. They watch the ground and send live video. When they see an important target they dive and destroy it with high accuracy. This method helps avoid damage to nearby buildings and civilians.
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The project also uses long range drones. These drones fill a big gap. Earlier commanders had only short range rockets or big missiles like BrahMos. Long range drones give a middle option. They allow deep surveillance and precise attacks without turning every action into a major war.
Made in India
Project Shaktibaan also supports India’s self reliance in defence. The Army works with Indian companies like Solar Defence Adani Defence and RapheM. The first phase includes an investment of about ₹2,000 crore for loitering drones and launch systems. This keeps important defence work inside the country and reduces dependence on foreign suppliers during emergencies.
Technology alone cannot win wars. People still matter. The Army is training more than 100,000 drone operators. These soldiers will control drones and analyze data. New units like Ashmi platoons will support infantry while Bhairav commandos will focus on drone based missions. These changes make sure the Army stays strong from snowy mountains to hot deserts.
Some Shaktibaan regiments already work on the ground. More drones and systems will arrive over the next two years.
