The Indian Army raised its first Baaz Battalion—a specialized, dedicated drone unit—in August 2026 under the Jalandhar-based 11 Corps (Vajra Corps) in Punjab. Heron and Hermes UAVs, indigenous Ghatak and local manufacturer systems (IdeaForge, SMPP, NewSpace Research), alongside long-range MQ-9B aircraft.  Designed to boost aerial agility, deep-penetration reconnaissance, target acquisition, and counter cross-border smuggling of narcotics and weapons from Pakistan.