President calls for constant defence technology upgrades

President Pranab Mukherjee on Saturday said constant efforts are required to upgrade defence technology to maintain an edge in military capability over potential opponents.

He underlined the need for young technocrats to adapt the latest developments in technology for use by the defence forces by accelerating the pace of military innovation.

The president was addressing the convocation ceremony of 96th Degree Engineering and 24th Technical Entry Scheme courses at the Military College of Electronics and Mechanical Engineering (MCEME), Secunderabad.

"The history of warfare bears testimony to the decisive role of technology on the outcome of military conflicts. To maintain an edge in military capability over potential opponents, constant efforts are required to upgrade technology. Armed Forces and technology have been strategic partners, in developing and enhancing the defence capability of the nation," said the president, who is also the supreme commander of the defence forces.

He told the graduating officers that their challenge would be to harness the latest defence technologies and ensure that the Indian Army benefits from them.

"The nation will look upon you to define and modify the way defence forces operate, by using technological advances to provide a comparative edge over our adversaries," he said.

Terming MCEME as a truly unique institution, he said that it empowers the human resource of the Corps of EME with the highest levels of skills in technology management, imbibes best practices of present day engineering and also undertakes applied research for development of military systems.

The canvas of training at MCEME is both wide and varied, ranging from basic training for Jawans to Bachelors of Technology and Masters of Technology Courses for the officers, he noted.

He said he was pleased to learn that the blueprints of training at MCEME have kept pace with both the security environment and technology advancements. The Faculty of Guided Weapon Systems and Associated Technology is a testimony to the foresight of the defence forces in aligning technology with their avowed objective of defending the nation, he added.

Stating that the Indian Army has been the torch bearer of many non-military innovations, he noted that both the graduating courses have undertaken projects involving state-of-the-art technologies, ranging from biometrics to solar power.

"The wide variety of projects will find use both in civil society as well as military fields. Military Technology has benefitted civil society immensely and its spin-offs have contributed significantly to nation building."

The president said he was happy to know that on Army Day this year, the prime minister gave awards for excellence to eight projects of Indian Army, of which four were from MCEME.