Fitter, faster and fiercer: How Indian Army is changing its tactics to counter two-front threats from China and Pakistan

Time of India

29-07-2025

Amid rising regional tensions and rapid changes in military technology, the Indian
Army
is quietly undergoing one of its most significant shifts in decades, not with loud announcements, but through deliberate structural reforms, strategic exercises, and a visible change in how it prepares for a two- or three-front war. It is moving away from its legacy of manpower-heavy formations toward a leaner, younger, and more technology-enabled force. This transformation is centred on three visible pivots: reducing overall troop size while inducting younger jawans through the Agnipath scheme, modernising surveillance and combat capabilities with drones and AI-backed systems, and restructuring combat units by raising integrated formations like Rudra and
Bhairav
. Taken together, these reforms reflect a calibrated response to the demands of modern warfare—where speed, real-time intelligence, and joint operations increasingly define battlefield outcomes.
Younger soldiers and leaner force through Agnipath
The Army's effort to create a younger and faster-moving force is being led by changes in recruitment. Since 2022, all new soldiers have been inducted through the Agnipath scheme as short-term
Agniveers
. No regular soldier recruitment has taken place since 2020.
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As reported by The Print in June last year, this shift has led in a personnel reduction estimated at 1,27,660 to 1,68,660. However, officials see this as part of a deliberate shift to lower the average age of soldiers and build a leaner Army structure.
The move aims to reduce non-combat staff and improve the 'tooth-to-tail' ratio, freeing up resources for frontline capabilities and technology upgrades.
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Watch: Indian Army simulates future warfare using AI and drones near China border in Himalayas
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The US and China have both undertaken troop reductions in recent decades, offering lessons for India.
After the Cold War, the US cut over 600,000 troops through its Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) programme in the 1990s. A 2020 RAND study noted that while this shift enabled counterterrorism focus, it also weakened the US military's position in strategic competition with China and Russia.
China took a different approach. It reduced its People's Liberation Army strength from 3 million to 2 million after the 1990s, combining manpower cuts with long-term technological upgrades.
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Fast, furious, and future-ready: Why Indian Army's Rudra Brigade could be a game-changer against China and Pakistan
Army modernises drone, AI and air defence capabilities
The Indian Army is adapting to new forms of warfare that rely on technology such as drones, artificial intelligence, and precision-guided systems. A key influence has been the success of Indian-made drones during
Operation Sindoor
, which showcased how unmanned systems can offer tactical advantages in modern battle scenarios.
In line with this shift, the Army recently conducted Exercise
DIVYA DRISHTI
in East Sikkim in July 2025. According to an official Army release, this high-altitude exercise was conducted near the China border to improve surveillance, situational awareness, and rapid response.
Troops from the
Trishakti Corps
used unmanned aerial vehicles (
UAVs
), drones, and AI-integrated systems to simulate battlefield scenarios. These were supported by high-speed, secure data links to connect field units with command centres. The Army said the exercise was designed 'to enhance battlefield transparency and decision-making capabilities in operationally sensitive areas.'
During Operation Sindoor, Pakistan's drone and missile attacks targeting multiple Indian cities and military sites were neutralised through air defence. India deployed a layered air defence network, including legacy gun systems like L‑70, ZU‑23mm and Shilka, as well as modern systems such as Akash surface‑to‑air missiles, Barak‑8, the S‑400 Triumf, and indigenous counter‑UAS platforms.
A defining achievement of the operation was the performance of Akashteer, India's indigenously developed AI-enabled automated air‑defence control and reporting system. Akashteer intercepted and neutralised every incoming Pakistan drone and missile attack with a 100% kill‑rate.
In addition to defensive systems, India's offensive drone capabilities were also on display. Indian forces reportedly deployed indigenous loitering munitions and high-endurance drones to strike back at launch sites and logistical hubs in Pakistan. These drones, equipped with real-time targeting and precision-strike payloads, demonstrated India's increasing ability to conduct stand-off attacks without risking personnel.
New battle units: Rudra and Bhairav
As part of its structural reforms, the Army is also creating new integrated fighting formations. Two such battle units—Rudra and Bhairav—are being raised to strengthen frontline capability. These units represent the Army's pivot towards self-contained, mission-specific formations that combine infantry, artillery, armour, air defence, engineers, and surveillance units under a single operational command.
Unlike traditional divisions or brigades that often operate within fixed structures and wider hierarchies, Rudra and Bhairav are expected to be task-oriented formations, with the flexibility to be deployed across sectors depending on the operational requirement. This modular nature allows them to be scaled up or down based on threat perception, enabling rapid concentration of force during both conventional conflicts and grey-zone operations.
These battle groups are also expected to be tech-intensive formations, equipped with modern surveillance assets, battlefield management systems, encrypted communications, loitering munitions, and AI-backed decision support tools. Real-time intelligence and multi-domain coordination are likely to be central features of their operational doctrine, in line with the broader shift towards network-centric warfare.
The development of Rudra and Bhairav reflects the Indian Army's intent to reduce reaction time and enhance offensive readiness, especially along sensitive borders. Given India's dynamic threat environment, ranging from mountain warfare along the China frontier to counter-insurgency and conventional posturing along the Pakistan border, these formations offer a more agile response mechanism that can operate independently or in joint coordination with Air Force and
Navy
units under an integrated theatre command framework.
While the concept of integrated battle groups (IBGs) has been under consideration since the 2017 Doklam crisis, their actual implementation through these new units marks a significant shift from planning to execution. In time, Rudra and Bhairav may serve as prototypes for a larger reorganisation of Indian Army field formations, signalling not just a change in structure, but in mindset and operational philosophy.
The creation of such units marks a shift from traditional static formations to more mobile and mission-specific combat groups. These are designed to respond quickly to emerging threats along India's active borders, particularly with China and Pakistan.