In a landmark move to make drone operations a core military skill, the Indian Army is establishing 19 drone training centres at premier training institutions, including the Indian Military Academy (Dehradun), Officers Training Academy (Chennai and Gaya), Infantry School (Mhow), and School of Artillery (Deolali).
The initiative, accelerated after the successful use of drones in Operation Sindoor, aims to integrate drone handling and counter-drone tactics into the standard training curriculum for all ranks.
According to a limited Expression of Interest (EOI), the Army is procuring nearly 1,000 drones of various categories — nano, micro, small, medium, and First-Person View (FPV) — along with 600 training simulators and allied infrastructure. These will support both outdoor manoeuvre ranges and indoor training facilities, operational round-the-clock.
- Nano and micro drones will be used for motor skills and remote piloting basics.
- Small and medium drones will train soldiers in day-and-night surveillance, reconnaissance, mission planning, and target grid correction.
- FPV drones will prepare personnel for surveillance and kamikaze-style missions.
Vendors shortlisted through the EOI will also conduct training workshops at Deolali, Mhow, Dehradun, and Bengaluru for Army instructors, ensuring seamless induction of the new curriculum.
The facilities are expected to be operational by January 2026, aligning with the Army Training Command’s roadmap to ensure that all soldiers are drone-proficient by 2027. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh recently endorsed the plan, calling drone training a “game changer” in future warfare.
The move also reflects the Army’s broader organisational overhaul, where UAVs and counter-UAV systems will become standard weapon systems at the battalion level across most formations.
