NEW DELHI, MAY 7 — The Indian Army has launched a comprehensive restructuring of its war-fighting architecture, prioritizing artificial intelligence, unmanned systems, and rapid-strike formations over traditional artillery roles. This transformation comes one year after the May 2025 conflict between India and Pakistan and marks a decisive move toward a digitally integrated military capable of high-speed decision-making.
A central component of this overhaul is the creation of 25 “Shaktibaan” artillery regiments, which are being deployed along the borders with Pakistan and China. These specialized units are equipped with loitering munitions and swarm drones to conduct independent offensive operations. Supporting these regiments are “Divyaastra” batteries, which integrate long-range guns with anti-drone technology and AI-driven fusion centers to process real-time battlefield data.
Army Chief Upendra Dwivedi affirmed that 2026 and 2027 are dedicated to enhancing the force’s “networking” and data-centric capabilities. He stated that the objective is to ensure seamless information flow across all units, allowing commanders to make better-informed decisions faster than their adversaries. To support this, the Army has operationalized “Ekam AI,” a proprietary platform designed to provide mission-grade intelligence and automated decision support for ground troops.
The military has also finalized plans for Integrated Battle Groups (IBGs), with the first units set to emerge under the 17 Mountain Strike Corps. These brigade-sized units are designed to be highly agile, combining infantry, armor, and air defense into a single formation capable of launching operations within 48 hours. Additionally, all 385 infantry battalions have now been equipped with “Ashni” drone units, while specialized “Bhairav” commando battalions have been deployed to high-altitude and critical zones in Ladakh and Srinagar.
