21 INS Shivaji Officers Visit MCEME Secunderabad to Explore Emerging Military Technologies

A 21-member delegation of officers from INS Shivaji visited the Military College of Electronics and Mechanical Engineering (MCEME) in Secunderabad on September 15 and 16, 2026, as part of the Annual Training Visit Calendar, in a programme designed to familiarise them with advanced military technologies, contemporary training methods and indigenous capability development.

The two-day visit brought Indian Navy officers into direct contact with one of the Indian Army’s key technical training institutions, creating a platform for professional interaction between the two Services. The engagement also offered the delegation an overview of the training ecosystem created at MCEME for personnel of the Corps of Electronics and Mechanical Engineers (EME), which provides engineering and technical support to the Army.

At MCEME, the officers were briefed on the institution’s role in imparting advanced technical training to officers, Junior Commissioned Officers (JCOs) and technicians of the Corps of EME. The presentations covered contemporary approaches to technical education, the development of indigenous capability and the infrastructure that supports operational readiness.

The visit came at a time when military operations are becoming increasingly technology-intensive, with engineering, electronics, communications, robotics, artificial intelligence and autonomous systems playing a growing role in defence capability. Against that backdrop, the delegation was taken through various faculties, Centres of Excellence and advanced laboratories at the college to observe technologies and systems being explored and developed within the institution.

Among the key facilities visited were Dronalaya, Yantralaya and Rachnalaya. These centres exposed the officers to a range of emerging areas, including drones, robotics, artificial intelligence, additive manufacturing, electronic warfare, aviation systems and advanced communication technologies.

Dronalaya drew particular attention for its focus on unmanned and drone technologies. The visit gave the officers an opportunity to understand how drones and autonomous systems are being incorporated into military use for surveillance, reconnaissance and other operational tasks, making familiarity with such systems increasingly relevant for future military leaders.

Yantralaya and Rachnalaya offered exposure to robotics, advanced manufacturing and related applications. The facilities reflected the growing emphasis on combining engineering expertise with indigenous innovation to meet operational requirements and address practical challenges in a military setting.

Artificial intelligence formed another major strand of the visit. AI-enabled systems are being assessed across the armed forces for uses ranging from data processing and decision support to autonomous systems and operational technologies. For officers preparing for future service in increasingly complex environments, exposure to such systems is becoming an important part of professional development.

The delegation was also introduced to additive manufacturing capabilities, which can be used to develop components and prototypes and may have applications in maintenance, repair and logistics. For military organisations working across varied and often demanding environments, such technologies can help improve equipment availability and reduce dependence on conventional supply chains.

Electronic warfare and advanced communication technologies were also part of the technical tour. As modern battlefields rely more heavily on networks, sensors and electromagnetic systems, the ability to function in contested electromagnetic and information environments has become a critical element of military preparedness.

The visit further included exposure to aviation systems and other advanced technical domains, broadening the officers’ understanding of the range of capabilities being integrated into military training and capability development at MCEME.

MCEME occupies a significant place in the Indian Army’s technical training structure. The college is associated with the training and professional development of personnel responsible for maintaining and supporting complex military equipment and systems. Through that role, it contributes to the Army’s ability to keep a wide range of platforms and equipment operational.

The Corps of EME provides engineering and technical support to the Indian Army, including maintenance, recovery and the operational availability of equipment. Institutions such as MCEME are therefore central to ensuring that personnel can keep pace with increasingly sophisticated military technologies.

The interaction with the INS Shivaji officers also reflected the growing importance of inter-Service cooperation in the technical sphere. While the Army and Navy operate different platforms and systems, many of the challenges related to electronics, communications, autonomy, engineering and maintenance increasingly overlap.

By bringing officers from the Navy into an Army technical training environment, the visit created an opportunity for professional exchange and a better understanding of the capabilities and challenges faced by a sister Service. It also aligned with the broader objective of jointness and integration within India’s Armed Forces.

The convergence of military technologies means that innovation is no longer confined to Service-specific domains. Developments in artificial intelligence, unmanned systems, robotics, communications, electronic warfare and advanced manufacturing have applications across multiple operational settings, making cross-Service awareness more relevant than ever.

Such exchanges can help personnel look beyond their immediate Service roles and build familiarity with technological developments that are shaping the future force structure of the armed forces. They also provide a setting in which ideas, operational perspectives and technical approaches can be shared across institutions.

The Annual Training Visit Calendar serves as the framework for such professional exposure. For the INS Shivaji delegation, the programme at MCEME offered an opportunity to observe how technical education, research-oriented activity and advanced infrastructure are being brought together to support military capability development.

The visit also highlighted MCEME’s continuing evolution as a centre for technological excellence and innovation. Its Centres of Excellence and specialised laboratories provide an institutional setting in which personnel can engage with emerging technologies relevant to contemporary and future warfare.

The emphasis on indigenous capability development is especially relevant in the context of India’s wider push for self-reliance in defence technology. Building and adapting technologies within the country can reduce external dependence while helping the armed forces address operational requirements more effectively.

In that sense, the INS Shivaji-MCEME engagement went beyond a routine training visit. It functioned as a forum for professional interaction, technological familiarisation and exchange between the Indian Army and Indian Navy.

The visit concluded with a clear emphasis on jointness, integration and inter-Service cooperation as the armed forces prepare for the technological and operational demands of future warfare. As military capability becomes increasingly technology-driven, collaboration across Services is likely to remain central to innovation, training and capability development.

By the end of the two-day programme, the 21 officers from INS Shivaji had been exposed to MCEME’s advanced technical training infrastructure, its Centres of Excellence and its work in emerging technologies. The visit reinforced the growing importance of technological cooperation in shaping India’s future-ready military capabilities.