Mhow, March 3, 2026: Chief of the Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi, PVSM, AVSM, today visited the Military College of Telecommunication Engineering (MCTE) in Mhow and inspected the newly constructed NFS Advanced Training Centre, a unique all-India facility dedicated to high-level technical training for officers and personnel of the Army, Navy and Air Force.
The advanced centre has been designed specifically for multi-dimensional operations and network-centric warfare training. It aligns perfectly with the Indian Army’s 2026 theme — “Network & Data Centric Warfare System”.
During the visit, Gen Dwivedi was briefed on how the centre equips Infantry, Armoured and Artillery officers with the technical expertise required to establish real-time sensor-to-shooter links. Trainees receive hands-on experience on the latest high-speed NFS network and learn the correct employment of technical equipment available at the forward edge of the tactical battlefield. This enables seamless integration of data, voice and video services, significantly enhancing coordination during joint military operations, tactical efficiency and decision-making.
The Army Chief also visited the Drone Training Centre at MCTE, which embodies the Indian Army’s forward-looking “Eagle on the Arm” vision. The facility provides specialised training to officer cadets on drone operations and serves as a premier institution for cutting-edge developments in communication, artificial intelligence, cyber and drone technologies. Several battlefield applications leveraging AI and drone systems were demonstrated to the Army Chief.
Gen Dwivedi congratulated Lieutenant General Praveen Bakshi, VSM, Commandant of MCTE, and conveyed his best wishes for the institute’s vital role in shaping technically proficient “techno-warriors” ready for future challenges.
Separately, during his visit to Mhow, General Dwivedi also met retired army officers at the Army War College and interacted with them. The visit underscores the Indian Army’s strong focus on embracing emerging technologies and building a future-ready force capable of operating in a highly networked and data-driven battlefield environment.
contact: drrajeshjauhri@gmail.com
Dr Rajesh Jauhri is a Journalist with an experience of over 25 years in Indian and foreign media, a Social Scientist, an Ac-complished Author, a Political & Strategic Analyst, a Marksman (Rifle & Pistol), an Orator, a Thinker and an Educationist. He holds a Ph.D. degree on “Impact of colonial heritage on Indian police”. He runs an NGO dedicated to the social and eco-nomic uplift of tribal communities in MP and two decades back, he established a school in a village of Indore district, providing education and moral values to children belonging to underprivileged and minority families. Has received multiple awards in various fields.
