Indian Army’s Pakistan-Centric ‘Bhairav’ Commando Battalions Induction by August

The Indian Army’s newest strike formations, the Bhairav Light Commando Battalions, will be fully operational by the end of August, in what officials describe as a major restructuring aimed at sharpening India’s ability to launch swift, surprise actions across the Pakistan front.

The move follows the four-day clash with Pakistan in May and reflects a wider overhaul of the Army’s force structure, with the induction of new units such as Rudra brigades, Divyastra batteries, and Shaktibaan regiments. Together, these are designed to provide integrated, agile formations that can disrupt, strike, and sustain operations along sensitive borders.

Bhairav: Bridging Infantry and Special Forces

Modelled as an expanded version of the Ghatak platoon, each Bhairav battalion will field roughly 250 troops, smaller and lighter than standard infantry battalions but optimised for speed, flexibility, and tactical shock. The new units are designed to bridge the tactical gap between Special Forces and infantry. Army Chief Gen. Upendra Dwivedi, in a recent address at Kargil War Memorial, called them a “deadly force” built around the principle of surprise.

Equipped with Mahindra Armado Light Specialist Vehicles (LSV) – all terrain vehicle, Bhairav units will be capable of rapid deployment for bunker-busting, anti-tank missions, and cross-border raids. The LSV can carry six ready-to-fire anti-tank missiles and can also be integrated with 81mm and 120 mm vehicle-mounted mortar systems, which can destroy targets beyond 5 km and 8.2 km, respectively. Their arsenal includes AK-203 and SIG-716 rifles with night optics, along with vehicle-mounted mortars and anti-tank missile systems.

Integration of New-Age Warfare

The Army’s transformation extends beyond commando battalions. Infantry units are being restructured with dedicated drone platoons for both offensive and counter-drone warfare, expected to be rolled out across formations by August. Meanwhile, the artillery arm is being modernized with Divyastra batteries (conventional artillery integrated with drones and loitering munitions) and Shaktibaan regiments (dedicated drone-artillery units with smart munitions).

The Indian Army is preparing five Divyastra batteries, one for each major command except the Central Command. Additionally, three Shaktibaan regiments are in the pipeline for activation in the first phase. These regiments are not entirely new formations but are being carved out of existing artillery units, optimising existing resources for next-generation warfare.

Two Rudra brigades – an upgraded version of the Integrated Battle Group (IBG), all-arms formations that consolidate infantry, armour, artillery, drones, and logistics into a single strike package, have already been deployed along the border.

Pakistan-Centric Posture

The restructuring underscores India’s shift towards pre-emptive, localized cross-border actions, including raids on enemy artillery, sabotage of forward ammunition dumps, and clearance of frontline defences along the Line of Control. Officials suggest that up to 40–50 Bhairav-type battalions could eventually be raised to match the scale of India’s border commitments.

Defence analysts view the reforms as an attempt to institutionalise “surgical strike capability” at the tactical level, reducing reliance on large-scale mobilisation. By distributing offensive power across lighter, technology-enabled units, the Army aims to retain surprise and credibility in deterring Pakistan.

Huma Siddiqui