2024-05-13 14:49:02
New Delhi : To strengthen the Indian Army in drone warfare, the Indian Army had started training them with drones at the unit level also. At some places, training schools were also built for this and soldiers were trained on drones like co-copter or hexacopter. But objection has been raised to this from the Finance Department of the Defense Ministry. According to sources, about two months ago the Defense Ministry said that different units of the army cannot purchase drones on their own and there should be a detailed policy for this. The task of making the policy has been given to the Department of Military Affairs i.e. DMA. Whose head is the Chief of Defense Staff (CDS).
Focus on avoiding drone attacks
In the last few years, there has been a lot of focus on the use of drones as well as on avoiding drone attacks. Many startups in India are also engaged in making drones. Drone warfare is the reality of today’s era. Indian Army also started focusing on drones. Indian Army is taking everything from surveillance to logistics drones. The Indian Army has acquired SWITCH drones from Idea Forge which are fixed wing drones and are effective in high altitude. Its purchase was done under emergency procurement and most of the drones have been sent to the Northern Border (China Border). This purchase was made by the Army Headquarters. But small drones were also being purchased at different division and unit levels of the army. So that soldiers can be trained in it as well as it can be used for surveillance and other needs.
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Funds were available earlier
According to sources, there was a policy from the army that drones can be taken at the unit level for training. For this, extra funds were also being given in the training fund. But about two months ago the ministry raised objection to this. After which approval for the purchase of drones at the unit or division level was stopped. According to sources, some units of the army had sent proposals for purchasing drones in the last financial year, but due to the sudden policy change, they could not get approval for the purchase, due to which they are disappointed. A limit has also been set on the number of drones that will be taken for training.
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Three types of training of soldiers
Different units of the Indian Army are also training soldiers at their own level. An officer said that soldiers are being trained in three ways. Basic, Intermediate and Advanced. Basic training is being given through simulator, so that basic knowledge of drone can be gained. In intermediate training, flying and using a co-copter is being taught. In advance training, we are teaching how to make its route plan and how to use it as per need.
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What will happen until the policy arrives?
The Indian Army was preparing for drone warfare at the unit level. Only last month, the Army’s Western Command posted a video on Facebook from its official handle. In which it was told that a Drone Training Lab has been created in the Panther Division to sharpen the technology, tactics and process in drone warfare. It said that this training will be important for future operations. But now unless DMA makes a policy, drones will not be taken at the unit level. Due to which there will be delay in training and its effect will also be visible on the preparations.