Ahead of its much-anticipated deployment on November 1, the first glimpse of Indian Army ‘lean mean unit’ Bhairav Battalion was seen during Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s visit to Jaisalmer, Rajasthan.
In the images shared by the Ministry of Defence, soldiers dressed in combat uniforms with a few in Ghillie suits were seen interacting with the defence minister.
In a statement, the Ministry stated that Singh, who attended the ongoing Army Commanders’ Conference in Jaisalmer, witnessed a dynamic ‘Capability Demonstration Exercise’, showcasing integrated employment of new organisations such as the Bhairav Battalion and Ashni Platoon, along with the latest technological assets inducted into the Indian Army for conduct of operations.
The display symbolized the seamless blend of legacy and innovation, highlighting the Indian Army’s thrust on Capability Development and Force Modernisation, the Ministry stated.
The images come days after Director General Infantry Lt Gen Ajay Kumar had stated that the newly-raised battalions represent agile, high-mobility Infantry formations that bridge the gaps between the conventional Infantry battalions and Special Forces.
Ahead of Shaurya Diwas on November 28, the Director General stated that the newly-raised Bhairav Battalions have been designed for swift tactical strikes and rapid deployment, optimised for border and high-intensity contingencies. Each battalion will have a troop strength of 200–250 personnel, including soldiers drawn from the Signals, Army Air Defence, and Artillery Regiments, he said.
“As of now, five Bhairav Battalions have already been raised and deployed in areas of independent operations. Their on-the-job training, which commenced on October 1, will conclude on October 30, after which they will be fully operational and mission-ready to participate in any operation,” he added.