Operation Sindoor 2.0: How the army is preparing for the next battle

The army, when not at war is preparing for it. This statement has been drilled down to every soldier from the initial days of training. Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) general Upendra Dwivedi while addressing the Passing Out Parade (POP) at the National Defence Academy stated "India is preparing for Operation Sindoor 2.0".

Following the adage the 'more you sweat in peace, the less you bleed in war,' the Indian Army along with its sister services has held may individual and joint exercises since the active phase of Operation Sindoor has ended. One year after the 88-hour operation, lessons from the conflict have reshaped India’s counter-terror doctrine and combat readiness, shifting its posture from reactive defense to preemptive, technology-driven punitive deterrence. This was validated during the tri-service Trishul Exercise in November 2025, which demonstrated integrated multi-domain operations under compressed timelines, synchronising sensors, shooters, and decision-making into a kill-web architecture.

The Indian Army has decisively transitioned from manpower-heavy tactics to a high-tech, multi-domain force centered around unmanned systems, artificial intelligence, and lean rapid-response units. The army has made structural changes to be better poised for offensive actions. It has raised Rudra Brigades and Bhairav light commando battalions . These units enable infantry in difficult terrain and free special forces for strategic missions, reflecting a structural move toward speed and flexibility.

Parallelly, unmanned systems have been embedded into army units. The infantry battalions of the army have raised Ashni drone platoons and the Regiment of Artillery are to be equipped with Divyastra batteries and Shaktibaan regiments, The Armoured Corps has showcased Shaurya Squadrons, but this is still under review. These drone-equipped units and sub-units are capable of surveillance, precision strikes, electronic warfare and logistics. Late last year, the Army placed orders worth around Rs 5,000 crore for indigenous drones, including loitering munitions, kamikaze drones and surveillance UAVs.

In sum, the Army’s post-Sindoor changes reflect tactical innovation through new formations, drones and doctrinal shifts. Progress on Integrated Theatre Commands has stalled, and India has yet to establish an Integrated Rocket Force, even as Pakistan and China have advanced their own rocket force structures.