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India has taken a big step in enhancing its military’s deterrence capabilities along its borders with Pakistan and China through the creation of new commando and drone units. The army will also be equipped with carbines designed for close-quarter battles and the latest anti-tank weapons, in a move that analysts say will significantly strengthen the country’s border security and defence sector. Speaking at a press briefing on Wednesday, Lieutenant General Ajay Kumar, director general in the Indian army, said the first light commando battalion, or the “Bhairav battalion”, would be deployed on November 1. A total of 25 such battalions are expected to be raised in the next six months. “Designed to be lean and lethal, these battalions are built for rapid, high-impact operations along India’s borders with China and Pakistan,” said Kumar, who was speaking ahead of Infantry Day on Monday. Each battalion will comprise 250 personnel from the different arms, including infantry, artillery, signals and air defence. As part of the plan to transform the army’s combat capabilities along the border areas, India has signed a US$332 million deal with two companies to supply 425,000 modern carbines, replacing its decades-old submachine guns. The new 5.56×45mm carbines, which will replace the decades-old 9x19mm Sterling ones, are expected to be delivered within two years, with the first inductions to begin in September 2026. Under the deal, 60 per cent of the carbines, which are short-barrelled lightweight rifles, will be supplied by Pune-based Bharat Forge and the remaining 40 per cent by PLR Systems, a joint venture of Indian conglomerate Adani Group and Israel Weapon Industries. The army has also raised 380 new specialist drone platoons called the “Ashni”, with each platoon comprising between 20 and 25 soldiers. To boost the army’s capabilities to counter armour threats, India also announced the emergency acquisition of 12 FGM-148 Javelin launchers and 104 missiles. India has allocated a defence budget of US$78.7 billion for the current financial year ending on March 31, 2026. Rahul Rawat, a research assistant with Observer’s Research Foundation’s Strategic Studies Programme, said the army’s announcement reflected the evolving nature of warfare, requiring better integration across different weapon systems. It was also in alignment with the Indian defence ministry’s goal to carry out reforms this year, Rawat said. “The specialised battalions are an effort to bolster deterrence in the form of a combined arms formation.” Through these units, the Indian army would be better positioned to counter its adversaries amid simmering tensions, he added. In response to a deadly terrorist attack in the disputed Kashmir region in April, India launched the four-day “Operation Sindoor” against Pakistan – the most serious border clash between the neighbours in years. During the conflict, aerial combat played a key role, including the deployment of drones by the Indian military. Tensions between India and China along their Himalayan border have eased over the past year after they agreed to “disengagement and resolution of issues” in the disputed area in October last year. In June 2020, violent clashes between the two sides led to the deaths of 24 soldiers. The total length of India’s borders with China and Pakistan is about 6,800km (4,227 miles), according to New Delhi’s figures. Gaurav Kumar, a researcher at the United Service Institution of India, a defence and security think tank, said the army’s close-quarter capabilities along its borders would be transformed with the introduction of the new carbines and drone platoons, calling the move a “game changer”. “Right now, it is signalling a break from the inertia of legacy systems. For years, frontline troops relied on outdated submachine guns, a vulnerability that is now being addressed head-on.” The drone platoons will enable infantry commanders to assess their strike options and the battleground in real time, especially along India’s contested border areas with China and Pakistan, according to Gaurav Kumar. Along with the availability of the light commando battalions and Javelin missiles, the Indian army would be able to plug “critical capability gaps”. Under the army’s road map, home-grown technology would be key in enabling Indian troops to be leaner and smarter, capable of providing strong deterrence and rapid response to any threats, he said. Raj Shukla, a defence analyst who is a retired lieutenant general with the Indian army, agreed that the country’s increasingly self-reliant defence sector would play a major role in the military’s transformation. While the sector still faces challenges, such as delays in the development of India’s fifth-generation stealth fighter jet, its improved manufacturing capabilities have been encouraging, according to Shukla. “Start-ups and the private sector are doing very well in defence. We have self-made drones, lasers and microwaves. We have challenges at the borders [with China and Pakistan], but when your capability is troops plus capacity equipment, it gives a boost to the army on the ground,” he added. Gaurav Kumar urged Indian policymakers to work together with private firms to enhance research and development and instil a culture of innovation in the defence sector. He said: “If India can sustain this momentum, it has every potential to emerge as a regional pacesetter in defence technology, one whose choices help shape, rather than simply adapt to, the evolving security architecture of the Indo-Pacific.”
