Mission Sudarshan Chakra
Context:
During his visit to DRDO, Defence Minister said that DRDO would play a pivotal role in the creation of Sudarshan Chakra, an ambitious air defence initiative announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his Independence Day 2025 address from the Red Fort.
It envisions a comprehensive national air defence shield.
The initiative aims to be fully operational by 2035, marking a strategic shift in India's defence posture
Key Features & Objectives The Mission Sudarshan Chakra:
It is designed as a multi-layered shield integrating missile and drone interception, advanced surveillance, and precision strike capabilities.
The Shield is powered by:
Indigenous defence technology under Aatmanirbhar Bharat
Radars, satellites, AWACS aircraft, and interceptor missiles
Focus on defence modernisation by merging current systems with future technologies.
Unlike Israel’s Iron Dome, Sudarshan Chakra Shield will be designed for a subcontinent-sized battlefield, confronting nuclear adversaries, drones, cruise missiles, and hypersonics with a layered, scalable architecture.
Technological Pillars:
Mission Sudarshan Chakra will integrate multiple weapons into one network:
Akash and Akash-NG: Designed for low-altitude drones and aircraft
QRSAM: Short-range system to protect mobile
MR-SAM / Barak 8: Covers medium-range cruise missiles and aircraft
XR-SAM: Future long-range interceptor under development
S-400: Currently deployed for interim strategic defence
BMD Interceptors (Project Kusha): For endo- and exo-atmospheric interception of ballistic missiles.
Directed-Energy Weapons (Future): Lasers and microwave systems to disable drones and missile swarms.
Significance:
Unlike traditional systems focused solely on military bases, this mission aims to protect civilian infrastructure—including hospitals, temples, dams, refineries, and cities—alongside strategic assets.
The mission declares a stance of not just fighting wars but preventing them by ensuring the safety of citizens.
It is often compared to systems like Israel's Iron Dome but with a broader mandate for a vast geography like India.