Junior engineering networking convocation held at Military College
Mhow: The convocation ceremony of Junior Engineer Network Engineering (JENE) course number 162 was held at the Military College of Telecommunication Engineering (MCTE) recently, where 99 non-commissioned officers of the Army were awarded a Diploma in Electronics and Telecommunication Engineering from Rajiv Gandhi Proudyogiki Vishwavidyalaya (RGPV), Bhopal.
Tired of too many ads? go ad free now
MCTE Deputy Commandant and Chief Instructor Major General Gautam Mahajan was the chief guest of the event and presented medals and trophies to the award winners. The Faculty of Communication Engineering commander, Brigadier Deven Makhija, administered the engineer's pledge.
In his valedictory address, Major General Mahajan complimented the officers for their performance during the course. He emphasised force modernisation, which is one of the thrust areas in all armies of the world today.
He reminded the graduating officers about the importance of the man behind the machine and exhorted them to keep pace with the phenomenal boom of technology in the field of communications and information technology, and to always strive for excellence.
An MCTE press release stated that the college has an impressive campus and laboratories for emerging technologies like 5G, AI, EM Spectrum Operations, Quantum Technology and VLSI. It is the only institution that provides training to military personnel in these specialised fields of information and communication technologies in the modern battlefield.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Indian Express
36 minutes ago
- Indian Express
Drone warfare came home during Op Sindoor. Where does India stand?
On July 1, 2021, then Army Chief General M M Naravane had warned: 'While we pursue our quest for niche technologies, including AI, it would be prudent to remember that future wars will also involve low technology, which is easy to obtain but difficult to defeat.' These words ring truer than ever in the context of two recent events. On June 1, Ukraine bombed five airbases deep inside Russia using cheap First Person View (FPV) drones, underlining the need to fundamentally reimagine air defences in the age of asymmetric drone warfare. Weeks earlier in May, during the hostilities in the wake of Operation Sindoor, Pakistan had attacked towns and military facilities across India's western front, from Baramulla to Barmer, with swarm after swarm of relatively low cost, low tech drones for four straight days. Apart from inflicting damage, these attacks were meant to overwhelm India's air defences, clutter radars, exhaust ammunition, gather intelligence, and probe for vulnerabilities. Drones, a brief history Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) date back to World War II and the Korean War, where they were used for training anti-aircraft gunners and in specific offensive missions. Their modern military usage took off in the 1990s, after being successfully deployed in the Gulf War of 1991. The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict of 2020 marked a turning point in drone warfare: Azerbaijan's use of Turkish Bayraktar TB2 and Israeli Harop drones devastated Armenian defences, decisively shifting the conflict's dynamics in favour of Baku. 🔴 Yemen, where Houthi rebels targeted Saudi oil infrastructure using drone swarms; 🔴 Gaza, where Israel has deployed high-tech drones for surveillance and strikes, and Hamas has used drones for grenades and observation; and 🔴 Ukraine, where both Moscow and Kyiv have deployed commercial quadcopters (DJI drones), military drones (Bayraktar TB2, Orlan-10, Shahed-136), and loitering munitions. Ukraine has notably used 'first-person view' (FPV) racing drones to target tanks, chase individual soldiers and small units, and, most notably, bomb Russian air bases. On June 1, Ukraine carried out Operation Spider's Web, one of the most sophisticated drone operations in history, using 100–150 FPV drones, transported clandestinely in trucks deep into Russia. The target: five key Russian airfields. Ukrainian officials claim to have hit more than 40 Russian aircraft, including strategic bombers like the Tu-22 and Tu-95, and inflicted losses of around $7 billion. Meanwhile, Russia throughout the war has used Iranian-made Shahed kamikaze drones in swarms to overwhelm Ukrainian air defenses, and target critical infrastructure such as energy grids. Not one, not two… Swarm drones are autonomous or semi-autonomous UAVs that operate in coordinated groups, much like swarms of birds or fish. They communicate via wireless networks and adjust in real time to achieve shared objectives. Swarms are more resilient than traditional drones due to in-built redundancy — even if one drone is intercepted, others can continue on the mission. Drone swarms are thus used to saturate air defences (a few payloads may sneak through even robust defences), gathering intelligence, and attacking high-value targets. Countries are already developing even more lethal AI-driven swarm drones, capable of making real-time decisions, adapting tactics mid-mission, and coordinating more complex manoeuvres. These are expected to become integral to combined arms warfare, functioning alongside infantry, armour, and cyber units. According to Fortune Business Insights, the global military drone market stood at $14.14 billion in 2023, and is projected to hit $47.16 billion by 2032. Threat of swarms Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan, in a lecture in Pune, flagged the rising drone threat: 'Now we have drones as small as water bottles — and in swarms,' he said, calling these 'undetectable' and 'untargetable'. Air Marshal Anil Chopra (retd), former head of the Centre for Air Power Studies, said that while drone swarms deployed by Pakistan were not particularly effective, the Ukraine example offers some major learnings. 'When you use very cheap drones that carry warheads barely weighing a kilo — like Pakistan did — nothing much happens. They're jammed easily… Only a fool would fire expensive missiles at them,' Chopra told The Indian Express. But swarm drone attacks can be carried out anywhere, and at any time. 'If someone moves a truck full of drones near an airbase and launches them [like in the case of Op Spider's Web], defending becomes very difficult. In countries like India, with porous borders and diverse populations, the threat is real,' he said. Chopra emphasised upon the need for integration across the security establishment. 'Your intelligence setup, even the local police, matter. Even a traffic constable could make a difference,' he said, adding that the success of the Ukraine op was predicated on Kyiv being able to transport its drones thousands of kilometres inside Russia undetected. 'Strategic thinking, inventory management — everything must evolve. A $1,000 drone damaging a $200 million aircraft is our new reality,' Chopra said. Countering drone threats Defence against drones begins with detection. Modern systems employ a mix of AESA radars, electro-optical and infrared sensors, acoustic detectors, and AI-powered fusion systems. Once detected, one option is for drones to be neutralised through kinetic means, that is, with missiles and anti-aircraft guns. But traditional kinetic air defences, especially surface-to-air missiles (SAMs), are costly, and less effective against swarms. Automated gun systems such as C-RAM and Phalanx, which track targets and fire autonomously, are preferred in this role. Even more cost-effective alternatives include: Directed Energy Weapons (DEWs): Lasers and microwave pulses that disable drones by damaging sensors or frying electronics; Electronic Warfare (EW): Jamming GPS signals or communication links; Spoofing: Misleading drones about their location or issuing false commands; Cyber Attacks: Taking control of drones and crash them by exploiting software vulnerabilities; and Interceptor drones & nets: For close-range neutralisation, protecting critical assets. The asymmetry in cost remains the central challenge in anti-drone warfare. A drone swarm costing roughly $100,000 might take millions of dollars to neutralise with currently available technology. This is why nations, including India, are investing in more cost-effective solutions like EW and DEWs. The ideal defence is a layered system, integrating multiple modes of interception for redundancy and cost-efficiency purposes. Examples include Israel's Iron Dome and the US's Directed Energy M-SHORAD. India's capabilities Since 2020, India has ramped up its counter-drone infrastructure, deploying a layered defence that blends indigenous technology, EW, and air defence systems. Key systems include: Akashteer Air Defence Control System: Developed by Bharat Electronics Ltd, it integrates with the Indian Air Force's integrated command network for real-time tracking; Bhargavastra: Solar Defence and Aerospace Ltd's weapon system fires 64 micro-rockets in salvos to eliminate drone swarms; DRDO's Anti-Drone System: It offers 360-degree radar coverage, with both jamming (soft kill) and laser (hard kill) capabilities. Drones can be detected up to 4 km away, and neutralised within a 1 km radius; and Indrajaal: An AI-powered grid from a Hyderabad startup that combines jammers, spoofers, and intelligence to protect areas up to 4,000 sq km. Already deployed at naval sites in Gujarat and Karnataka. During the May 2025 swarm attacks, the IAF activated its Integrated Counter-UAS Grid, alongside conventional radars, guns, and missiles, neutralising attempted strikes on 15 military bases and several urban targets. Looking ahead There is currently a race to develop both drone and anti-drone capabilities. 'Even the Iranians are producing more than 20 Shahed drones per day. And these are powerful. India too has set up an ecosystem with 550 startups in the field. Some tech is acquired, but we're developing our own tech too,' Chopra said. The future of warfare is here, and it's unmanned, AI-driven and asymmetric. India's response to the May 2025 drone swarms signals it is rapidly adapting to this future. As CDS Chauhan put it: 'We are at a cusp where war may be between humans and machines — and tomorrow, between machines themselves. Machines that are autonomous, intelligent, and make decisions. We may need a layered and resilient defence system [to counter] this.' With inputs from Amrita Nayak Dutta
India.com
7 hours ago
- India.com
Meet India's Mach-8 Monster – A Missile Born In Shadows And Built To Strike Fear
New Delhi: No noise. No announcement. No flashy parade. Just quiet fire in the labs. And now, something that flies at Mach 8 is nearly ready to break the sound barrier of geopolitics. Hidden behind code name Project Vishnu, Indian defence scientists have built a weapon that does not only travel fast. It thinks fast as well. ET-LDHCM, a hypersonic cruise missile, born of pure Indian brainpower, is about to redraw the battlefield map of Asia. No foreign tech. No borrowed blueprints. Only fire, speed and intent. Apart from being a missile, it is a message to Beijing, Islamabad and to anyone watching from afar. It carries up to 2,000 kg of steel, explosives or nuclear vengeance. Range? 1,500 km of precision death. Speed? 11,000 km/h – faster than panic. Launch points? Land, sea, air – take your pick. What it hits? Anything, anywhere and before it is even seen. At the core lies a scramjet, a beast that inhales the sky and converts it into raw acceleration. Already tested for 1,000 seconds on the ground, it is now ready to roar through the air. No curves, no arcs and no easy trajectory to track. It flies low, dances mid-air, dodges interception and disappears into radar blind spots. It is made of metals that do not melt even at 2,000°C, materials that do not blink when the missile rips through the atmosphere and coatings that laugh at oxidation. What does it change? Balance, power and fear. Until now, hypersonic dominance was a three-member club – the United States, Russia and China. Now, the door has been kicked open. And India just walked in. This missile and the tech behind it may soon push rockets into orbit faster. It helps satellites reach space cheaper and drives aerospace and defence into new territory. Even small Indian companies, MSMEs, are now part of this race. So what is next? Its final tests and deployment across India's Army, Navy and Air Force quietly, with no ceremony, but with eyes watching from Islamabad to Beijing. It is fast. It is local. It is brutal. And it is coming.
Economic Times
16 hours ago
- Economic Times
Pakistan eyeing German missile shield used in Ukraine after BrahMos proves too fast for Chinese systems: Report
Pakistan is considering acquiring the German IRIS-T SLM air defense system to counter supersonic cruise missiles like India's BrahMos, which have proven effective against its existing Chinese systems. Despite facing economic challenges and securing international loans, Pakistan has increased its defense budget, raising concerns from India about the allocation of funds. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads IRIS-T SLM shows effectiveness against supersonic cruise missiles Feature IRIS-T S-400 BrahMos Type Defensive Defensive Offensive Origin Germany Russia India- Russia Role Point area & Defence Long-range air defence High-speed precision strike Max. Range ~40 km ~400 km ~400 km (latest variants) Speed of Target Handling Supersonic missiles Hypersonic threats Supersonic (Mach 3) In service with Germany, Ukraine Russia, India, China India (Army, Navy, Air Force) Designed to defeat Cruise missiles, drones Missiles, aircraft Ground/naval targets Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Pakistan's defence upgrade comes amid financial troubles India objects to international loans given to Pakistan German defence ties span both sides of the subcontinent Reliance enters into a partnership with the German firm Pakistan is reportedly exploring the option of acquiring an advanced air defence system from a German company to counter supersonic cruise missiles , such as India's BrahMos , which have proven highly effective against Pakistan's existing Chinese-made HQ-16 and HQ-9 systems. According to media reports, the system has already been inducted into the Ukrainian armed forces. Last month, Ukraine claimed that the advanced air defence system successfully shot down over 60 targets since its initial deployment last IRIS-T SLM system, developed by Diehl Defence , has reportedly been very successful in Ukraine, particularly against Russian P-800 Oniks missiles that are similar in performance to the BrahMos. The system was originally meant for Egypt, which had signed a deal for ten batteries, but some of the units were redirected to Ukraine during the ongoing in 1990, the IRIS-T SLM has undergone multiple upgrades. It includes a radar, an operations centre, and multiple launchers—each mounted on a compact 20-foot frame. This modular design allows for easier deployment. The cost of one complete unit is estimated at around $200 interest in the system comes at a time when its existing air defence systems have failed to counter threats like the Indo-Russian BrahMos missile . The country is facing severe economic challenges and has repeatedly sought help from global financial institutions. In the last month alone, Pakistan secured an $800 million loan from the Asian Development Bank and a $1 billion loan from the International Monetary its fiscal crisis, the Pakistani government cancelled development projects worth 1,000 billion Pakistani rupees but raised the defence budget by 18%, according to a report by India has raised objections against Pakistan receiving billions in loans from multi-lateral agencies like ADB and IMF. It has claimed, 'the loan amount would be used for terror financing rather than their intended use for development.'While Pakistan is exploring a deal for IRIS-T SLM from Germany, Diehl Defence is also a partner of Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems that is working on an Indian defence project. The two companies are working together to supply an Interactive Defence and Attack System (IDAS) for six submarines being developed under India's Rs 70,000 crore Project 75I for the Indian Defence, subsidiary of Reliance Infrastructure announced on Wednesday that the company has entered in a partnership which could generate around Rs. 10,000 crores in revenue. The deal is to manufacture Vulcano 155mm artillery shell that is used for long range precision strikes. It would help give the Indian Army a boost in the conducting precision strikes. The company will manufacture atleast 50% of the system in India.
