Powerful made-in-India shield: PM Modi announces Sudarshan Chakra Mission

Prime Minister Narendra Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday used his Independence Day address from the ramparts of the Red Fort to announce that the government will launch Mission Sudarshan Chakra to create a powerful weapon system to thwart any attempt by enemies.

"In the next ten years, by 2035, I want to expand, strengthen, and modernise this national security shield. Drawing inspiration from Lord Shri Krishna, we have chosen the path of the Sudarshan Chakra...The nation will be launching the Sudarshan Chakra Mission," said PM Modi.

The PM said all public places will be covered by expanded nationwide security shield by 2035.

According to PM Modi, the system would integrate the latest technological tools to create a powerful, multi-layered shield around critical locations across the country. “India will build the ‘Sudarshan Chakra’ defence system to protect the nation. Using cutting-edge technology, we will ensure the safety of our strategic installations, our cities, and our sacred places. This will be a formidable deterrent to any hostile attempt to harm us,” the Prime Minister declared.

The initiative is expected to encompass a multi-layered security framework, integrating advanced surveillance, cyber protection, and physical infrastructure safeguards tailored to India’s evolving  landscape.

According to him, the mission would incorporate a Precise Target System and integrate "cutting-edge weaponry". The mission marks a significant shift in India’s national defence goals, inspired by Israel’s ‘Iron Dome’ system.

During Operation Sindoor on the intervening night of May 7 and 8, India used the S-400 defence missile systems to take down Pakistani drones and missiles fired towards 15 Indian cities. India’s S-400 Triumf air defence system, locally dubbed the “Sudarshan Chakra”, shot down five Pakistani fighter jets and one airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft, marking the largest-ever recorded surface-to-air kill for India.

Developed in 2007, the Russian-made S-400 was originally deployed for the defence of Moscow, later serving in Syria to protect Russian assets, and in Crimea after its annexation from Ukraine.

The term "Sudarshan Chakra" draws inspiration from the epic Mahabharata, symbolising qualities that closely reflect its operational strengths.

PM Modi also 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.

The PM also announced that all the key locations across the country, including railway stations, hospitals, and religious sites, will be brought under a national security cover.

In his address, PM Modi referenced 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 stated.