The Indian Army has begun raising a new class of light commando units called Bhairav battalions as part of a wider push to make its infantry faster, more lethal, and drone-enabled for modern multi-domain warfare. Media reporting and Army briefings say roughly 15 such battalions are already raised with a plan to go up to about 25, and that the Army is training a pool of about 100,000 drone operatives to support them.
What a Bhairav battalion is
Bhairav battalions are compact, highly mobile light-commando formations built from existing infantry cadres. Each battalion is reported to have about 200 to 250 specialised soldiers, far smaller than a conventional infantry battalion, and is optimised for speed, reconnaissance, disruption and limited deep penetration operations rather than prolonged high-intensity set-piece fights. These units are being equipped with modern small arms, communications, software-defined radios, loitering munitions and organic small unmanned aerial systems for intelligence, surveillance and strike.
According to news reports from early January 2026, the Army showcased Bhairav units during public events and said dozens have been raised so far. The same reporting credits the Army with establishing a forcewide pool of roughly 100,000 personnel trained to operate drones across formations, to be embedded with units such as Bhairav. These figures come from Army statements and press coverage of demonstrations at training centres including Nasirabad.
Key features and requirements
Size and structure: Small battalion size, roughly 200 to 250 soldiers, organised for modular tasking and rapid deployment.
Integrated drone capability: Each battalion will operate or be supported by drone platoons for ISR, target marking and use of loitering munitions. The Army has separately announced the induction of Ashni-style drone platoons and wider drone training.
Light footprint: Emphasis on mobility, lighter personal loads, and quick reaction rather than heavy armour or sustained logistics chains.
Training and selection: Troops are drawn from existing infantry units under a save-and-raise model rather than adding new manpower. Training prioritises navigation, assault, close target work, and drone skills.
Communications and networking: Use of modern radios and battlefield management tools to fuse drone feeds, forward observers and strike assets.
Operational objectives and mission sets
Bhairav battalions are being tasked with a set of missions that sit between conventional infantry tasks and special forces operations. Typical roles include:
• Rapid cross-border raids and limited strike operations.
• Advanced reconnaissance and intelligence collection ahead of main-force moves.
• Disruption of enemy logistics and communications using small teams and loitering munitions.
• Seizure or denial of tactical objectives such as key terrain, observation posts, or temporary infrastructure.
• Support and force multiplication for elite special forces by conducting preparatory operations or holding objectives after raids.
Significance for India’s force design
Bhairav units are part of a broader transformation aimed at faster decision cycles and multi-domain operations. The battalions are intended to free up scarce special forces for high-risk strategic tasks while giving ground commanders fast, deniable, and scalable strike options. Embedding large numbers of drone-capable soldiers across formations is meant to improve battlefield awareness and shorten sensor-to-shooter timelines. Analysts see this as a doctrinal shift from massed manpower to agile, technology-enabled units.
How Bhairav compares with similar units abroad
Bhairav battalions sit in a category shared by modern specialised light units in other armies, but they are not identical to classic special forces.
United Kingdom Ranger Regiment: The British Ranger Regiment comprises several battalions of about 250 personnel each and is intended for special operations capable tasks, partner force development and unconventional warfare. Like Bhairav, Ranger battalions are smaller, mobile and regionally aligned, but the Ranger Regiment is explicitly special operations-capable and operates under the Army Special Operations Brigade.
United States 75th Ranger Regiment: The U.S. Ranger regimental battalions are elite airborne light infantry that conduct direct action raids, airfield seizures, and special reconnaissance in support of US special operations. The Rangers operate at a higher operational intensity and under special operations command, with a global rapid deployment mandate. Bhairav is intended to relieve such specialist units of routine high-risk tasks rather than replace them.
Israeli commando and reconnaissance units: Units such as Sayeret Matkal focus on deep reconnaissance, intelligence collection and high-end counterterrorism. Israeli units are highly specialised, secretive and veteran-led. Bhairav is more of a mass-producible light-commando model that prioritises scalability and integration of drones rather than the extreme secrecy of elite Israeli formations.
Bhairav is best described as a hybrid between conventional light infantry and special operations-capable units. It mirrors trends in allied armies to create agile 250-person battalions for expeditionary, unconventional and partner-focused tasks while keeping most high-end special operations to dedicated special forces.
Official, fully public doctrinal documents and table of organisation are limited. Most available numbers and capability descriptions come from Army statements, press briefings and media reporting, so independent verification of exact battalion counts and the 100,000 drone operative figure is limited. Readers should treat the numeric figures as reported by media and the Army rather than independently audited facts.
About the Author
