March 18, 2025: The Indian army has unveiled its latest addition: the Eagle Drone, a cutting-edge, lightweight drone to enhance the military’s intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities. The ultimate goal is to equip every soldier deployed along India’s borders with one of these drones, effectively giving them “eyes in the sky.”, to detect and engage threats with unprecedented accuracy.

The Eagle Drone is envisioned as hand-launched, backpack-carried system that provides infantry units with real-time ISR capabilities. This allows soldiers to monitor enemy movements, identify targets, and co ordinate strikes, without relying solely on larger, centralized drone platforms.

According to Major General Mann, “Drones are no longer an asset, they are becoming part of the Indian Army.” He emphasized the need for drones that can withstand the harsh environments in which Indian soldiers operate, from the freezing heights of Siachen to the deserts of Rajasthan.

The Bharat drone Manthan 2.0, recently held in Delhi, served as a platform to bridge the gap between Indian army’s operational requirements and the technological capabilities of the domestic defence Industry.

In addition to the eagle drone technology, the Indian army is also exploring autonomous drone technology, with plans for an experiment scheduled for April 2025. This initiative aims to promote indigenous manufacturers and test cutting edge technology in real world scenarios.