Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday unveiled Mission Sudarshan Chakra to protect India's vital military and civilian installations and deliver a decisive response to any enemy threat.
"Mission Sudarshan Chakra will enable a powerful weapon system which will not only neutralise the enemy's attack but will also hit back at the enemy many times over," PM Modi said while delivering the Independence Day speech from the Red Fort.
The PM said India has chosen the path of Sudarshan Chakra by drawing inspiration from Lord Shri Krishna.
He invoked the moment when Lord Krishna shielded the sun to enable Arjun to defeat Jayadrath. “We are taking inspiration from Lord Krishna, who once barred sunlight from reaching Earth. That divine intervention changed the course of battle. Today, we must similarly shield our vital institutions from emerging threats,” he said, blending mythology with modern strategic vision.
The announcement came in the wake of a Pakistani attempt to target Indian civilian infrastructure this May during Operation Sindoor.
What is Mission Sudarshan Chakra?
The Sudarshan Chakra is likely to form part of a multi-layer strategy that is expected to operate alongside current systems such as Akash, S-400, and QR-SAM, as well as future laser-based interceptors.
The defence system is expected to rival Israel’s renowned Iron Dome, a multi-layered defence network credited with intercepting thousands of rockets from Hamas and Hezbollah since its deployment in the 2010s. Israel claimed its success rate to be of over 90 per cent.
However, unlike Israel’s Iron Dome, which is focused on short-range rocket and mortar attacks, India’s system is designed to counter a far wider range of threats, including long-range ballistic and cruise missiles.
According to News18, the system developed under the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative will involve the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
A senior government official who had worked with similar defence technology, told News18 that it will be “a nationwide network of radars, command-and-control centres, and interceptor missiles, capable of detecting, tracking, and neutralising incoming missiles, drones, artillery shells, and even swarms or loitering munitions in real time, with artificial intelligence likely playing a central role”.
PM Modi said India will continue to upgrade its capabilities. "I assure you that in the next 10 years, whether it is a place of strategic importance, a civilian area, or our centres of faith, we will build a ‘Rashtriya Suraksha Kavach’ capable of withstanding any attack," he said.
He said India is ready to face any kind of warfare and it has demonstrated this in Operation Sindoor. “Pakistan attacked our military bases, civilian areas, and our temples, but our air defence systems — our Sudarshan Chakra — foiled all their attacks,” he said.
According to India Today, Sudarshan Chakra could combine the Integrated Air Command and Control System (IACCS) network with an integrated rocket force.
PM Modi also recollected historical security incidents, including the 2008 Mumbai attacks, highlighting the importance of coordinated and forward-thinking security measures. "We cannot afford to be reactive. We must anticipate and prepare," he said.
In his 103-minute address, PM Modi summarised the salient features of the military capability in the works. “The research and development, and manufacturing of this modern system will be done in the country, leveraging the talent of our youth. It will be made by the people of our country. It will factor in future scenarios. The weapon will be able to target with precision, like the Sudarshan Chakra," he said.
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