India Prepares to Strike Enemy Targets Up to 500 km Away in Seconds: Army Raises ‘Shaktibaan’ Regiments

New Delhi: In a major leap towards modern warfare, the Indian Army has begun raising 15–20 ‘Shaktibaan’ regiments, equipped with swarm drones, loitering munitions, and long-range unmanned aerial systems capable of striking enemy targets from 5 to 500 kilometres away.

According to defence officials cited by ANI, these Shaktibaan regiments will be part of the Regiment of Artillery and are aimed at bridging a critical capability gap in long-range precision strikes. Initial units have already become operational.

Part of Major Force Restructuring Plan

The creation of Shaktibaan regiments is a key element of the large-scale force restructuring envisioned by Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi, designed to prepare the Army for the challenges of modern, technology-driven warfare.

With their induction, the Army will significantly enhance its ability to neutralise enemy assets deep inside hostile territory, ranging from tactical battlefield targets to strategic installations hundreds of kilometres away.

Complementing BrahMos and Pinaka

For targets beyond 400–500 km, the Army already fields BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles, while Pinaka multi-barrel rocket systems with a range of up to 120 km are also being inducted. The Shaktibaan regiments will complement these systems by providing flexible, cost-effective, and persistent strike options using drones and loitering munitions.

To equip the first Shaktibaan unit, the Army is set to initiate a fast-track procurement of around 850 loitering munitions, along with associated launchers.

Indian Industry to Play Key Role

The drones and loitering munitions will be supplied by Indian industry under the fast-track process, with deliveries expected within the next two years. Defence sources estimate the project cost at around ₹2,000 crore.

Private Indian defence firms such as Solar Defence and Aerospace, Adani Defence, and Raphe Mphibr are expected to be among the leading contenders for the contracts.

Expanding Drone Warfare Capabilities

The Indian Army has already created a pool of over one lakh trained drone operators and has begun equipping formations with the required systems. Alongside the Shaktibaan regiments, the Regiment of Artillery is also raising 35–40 Divyastra batteries within artillery divisions, each equipped with various combat drones capable of lethal strikes.

The Infantry is also modernising rapidly by establishing Ashwini platoons in every infantry battalion to meet new battlefield requirements. Additionally, a new special force named ‘Bhairav’ has been raised at the Corps Headquarters level to enhance special operations capability. Each operator in this force will be capable of launching drones to strike enemy targets.

A New Era of Precision Warfare

With the induction of Shaktibaan regiments, India is moving decisively towards network-centric, drone-dominated warfare, significantly strengthening its deterrence and offensive capabilities in an increasingly complex security environment.