The Army shared a video on its official X handle, showcasing the Bhairav battalions. Photo: X/@adgpi.
The Army’s newly raised modern warfare force, the Bhairav Battalions, will participate in the Army Day Parade for the first time in Jaipur on January 15.
A senior Army officer confirmed that two Bhairav Battalions will participate in this year’s parade—Southern Command’s 2 Bhairav Battalion, known as the ‘Desert Falcons’, and South Western Command’s 4 Bhairav Battalion. The war cry of the 2 Bhairav Battalion is Raja Ramchandra ki Jai.
On Sunday (January 11, 2026), the Army shared a video on its official X handle, showcasing the Bhairav battalions. Highlighting the Army’s focus on unmanned warfare, the officer said, “We are creating a pool of over one lakh drone operatives across the force. These operatives are capable of handling drones and employing them in real operations to target bases and formations inside the enemy territory.”
Raised by Army headquarters by drawing lessons from global conflicts as well as India’s own operational experience, including the recent Operation Sindoor, the Bhairav Battalions are designed as high-speed, offensive units capable of executing Special Forces’ tasks at multiple levels, depending on operational requirements, the officer added.
So far, the Army has raised 15 Bhairav Battalions, deployed across formations along borders, the officers said, adding plans are underway to raise about 25 such battalions in total in the near future.
Bridging the gap
The battalions are intended to bridge the gap between Para Special Forces and regular infantry units, enabling them to conduct special operations from tactical to operational depth.
“Modern warfare is changing at a very rapid pace. Today’s conflicts are hybrid in nature, and forces must be fully equipped with modern technology to meet these challenges,” the officer added. “The Bhairav Battalions are part of force restructuring and have been raised in line with new technologies, evolving thought processes, and emerging operational requirements,” the officer said.
As part of a broader transformation, the Army has also created Rudra Brigades—integrated all-arms formations combining infantry, mechanised units, tanks, artillery, special forces, unmanned aerial systems, along with dedicated logistics and combat-support elements.
Additionally, the Artillery, Mechanised Infantry and Armoured Corps are being equipped with advanced capabilities, including drones and modern battlefield systems, to enhance operational effectiveness in future conflicts.
Published – January 11, 2026 09:59 pm IST
