Mission Sudarshan Chakra

Last updated
Mission Sudarshan Chakra
TypeMulti-layer defense
Multi-domain operation
Place of origin India
Service history
In service Indian Armed Forces (intended)
Production history
Designer Defence Research and Development Organisation
Designed2025 (in development)
Produced2035 (planned) [1]
Specifications

Operational
range
China and South Asia
Launch
platform
Ground-based, sea-based, satellites

Mission Sudarshan Chakra is an Indian defence initiative to develop an interlocked, multi-layered, all-encompassing, AI-enabled networked architecture that combines enhanced monitoring, cyber protection, and physical defense to protect Indian population and infrastructure against terrorist attacks, military strikes, and other high value threats. [2] [3] [4] [5] The idea behind the defense barrier is similar to the Iron Dome of Israel and the Golden Dome of the United States. [2] [6] [7] The Defence Research and Development Organisation is the main entity spearheading the project. [8]

Contents

The system will function as a sword, as well as a shield. [9] The programme's goal is to establish a national multi-domain offensive and defensive security umbrella. It is to facilitate quick, accurate, and effective defense response against threats such as ballistic missiles, hypersonic platforms, fighter aircraft, loitering munitions, swarm drones etc. [10] [8]

History

Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled Mission Sudarshan Chakra from Red Fort on August 15, 2025. The Sudarshan Chakra architecture will be expanded by 2035, and the programme will involve strengthening and modernizing existing defence system in the Indian military arsenal. [11] Under the Atmanirbhar Bharat policy, the research and development of the entire system architecture and manufacturing of the components will be done in India. Sudarshan Chakra will have the ability to execute precise counterstrikes, and incorporate anti-cyber warfare capabilities. In cooperation with the Indian military and private sector businesses, Mission Sudarshan Chakra will entail cooperation between defense research organizations and civilian research laboratories. [12] [13] [14]

The Chinese cyber attacks after 2020–2021 China–India skirmishes [15] [16] [17] [18] , 2025 Pahalgam attack, 2025 India–Pakistan conflict, drone and missile attacks targeting the Golden Temple [19] , nuclear threat from Chief of the Army Staff of Pakistan General Asim Munir on Indian civilian infrastructure [20] , and announcement of Army Rocket Force by Prime Minister of Pakistan Shehbaz Sharif [21] , demonstrated the necessity for a complete defense system for India's national security. [22] Extensive coastline and hostile neighbors necessitated concurrent protection and surveillance. India's expanding economy raised the threats on financial hotspots, technology hubs, and industrial corridors. Mission Sudarshan Chakra became a vital tool for the survival of the country as a result of the confluence of security threats. [23]

It was held that critical military and civilian institutions, such as communications networks, food and water supplies, railway platforms, hospitals, religious sites, defense systems, and electrical grids, that are high priority targets for enemy forces needed to have their own layers of strong military and technological protection. [24] [25] [26] The Integrated Air Command and Control System and its own multi-layered air defense systems, Trigun system and the Akashteer network, will be interlocked with the Sudarshan Chakra architecture. [27] [24] [28] As of 2025, the fundamental components of Mission Sudarshan Chakra have already been determined. The evolving nature of warfare will inform the design of the entire system architecture. [29]

According to General Anil Chauhan, Chief of Defence Staff, multi-domain intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, and the integration of sensors placed on land, in the air, on ships, underwater, and in space will be necessary. The project will involve building infrastructure and procedures for the detection, acquisition, and neutralization of the enemy's weaponry. To get a clear picture and provide real-time responses, massive amounts of big data will need to be analyzed using artificial intelligence, large language models and quantum computing. [30] [31] [32]

System

Sudarshan Chakra will safeguard all vital national locations and guarantee complete protection against an evolving multi-dimensional threats. With its threat detection and targeting system, it will be able to stop enemy aggression and launch potent reprisal strikes. [33] It will aid in quickly eliminating threats on land, in the air, at sea, and facilitate the safe return of Indian military assets. [34] [23] It will examine sabotage of strategic assets, hybrid threats, and cyberwarfare. [35] Mission Sudarshan Chakra is an effort to develop a next-generation integrated surveillance and strike platform. [36]

Sudarshan Chakra will interlink with the integrated rocket force via. IACCS network. [29] The fundamental objective is to function as a single operational unit without delay by seamlessly integrating India's air defense network and missile strike force. Long-range precision weapons like ballistic and hypersonic missiles as well as soft/hard kill alternatives like microwave and directed-energy weapons would be used by Sudarshan Chakra to deliver counterattacks. The IRF's offensive strike capabilities and the IACCS's defensive surveillance will work in real time to carry out multiple precise retaliatory attacks, organize multi-layered air defense, and proactive threat identification. [37] [38] [39] [8]

Drones, lasers, artificial intelligence, and other contemporary military technologies will be the part of Sudarshan Chakra architecture. The AI will develop counter strategies by performing permutations and combinations of multiple possibilities and military maneuvers to estimate the likelihood of future conflicts. [40] [11] Entire India, including island territories, will be monitored by sensor layer, which will also cover at least 2,500 kilometres (1,600 mi) past the international border. [41]

With AI playing a key role, it will have a nationwide network of radars, command-and-control centers, interceptor missiles, close range and long range counter unmanned air systems that can identify, track, and destroy incoming missiles, drones, artillery shells, and swarms or loitering munitions in real time. [29] [42] [43] Up to about 500 km, the system will detect and destroy drones and medium- and short-range missiles. There will be a rapid-response defense element in place to counter short-range aerial threats. In order to facilitate retaliation, it will track the sources of drone or missile launches. The air defense capabilities of the Army, Air Force, and Navy will all be permanently merged with Sudarshan Chakra. [44]

Land-based and sea-based weapon batteries, automated command and control, space-based tracking, and an overlapping network of early-warning and tracking sensors will all be part of it. The continuous progress of Project Kusha is linked to Mission Sudarshan Chakra. Additionally, it indicates that the Indian Ballistic Missile Defense Program is ready for operational deployment. [45] [42] [8] Sudarshan Chakra will help in real-time coordination between security forces, intelligence agencies, and research institutions using predictive monitoring driven by AI and an integrated threat response network. [46] It could involve upgrading the national air space management capability. [11] Using hypersonic interceptors, the initial phase will have an interception range of up to 2,500 kilometres (1,600 mi) and an altitude coverage of up to 150 kilometres (93 mi). [47]

Subsystem

Integrated Air Defence Weapon System (Raksha Kavach)

In January 2025, the DRDO presented the Raksha Kavach multi-layer defense system against threats from multiple domains. Its components include the following: VSHORAD, Dharashakti electronic warfare system [48] [49] [50] , Arudhra medium power radar [51] [52] [53] , Advanced Light-Weight Torpedo, QRSAM, DRDO AEW&CS, ATAGS, D-4 System, Space Based Surveillance, UAVs, VHF/UHF man-portable software-defined radio, satellite phone, and Ugram assault rifle. [54] [55] It will be able to defeat precision-guided munitions, cruise missiles, UAVs, and fighter aircraft. [56]  It is one of the component of Mission Sudarshan Chakra. [57] [58] It will perform air surveillance, battle management, and weapons control. [59]

The Space Based Surveillance will identify possible threats in real time in the first layer. The command and control center will then receive alerts which will notify the DRDO AEW&CS for second-layer surveillance. Land based radar in the third layer will use the combined intelligence to scan the area for the incoming threat and transmit signals back to the command center. By eliminating threats that enters the surveillance zone, the control center establishes a protected area. In order to intercept threats, it will automatically guide the missile launchers. Three layers of protection are also included in the protected zone. Surface-to-air missiles will be used to destroy the airborne threats. The EW based soft-kill method will be used for jamming and damaging enemy targets. [60] [23]

Kinetic interceptors and DEWs are combined under a single command architecture, which operates as a network-centric, layered shield. To create a real-time air picture, the centralized C2 combines radar and electro-optical sensor streams. The C2 assigns each conventional and asymmetric threat to an appropriate interceptor based on factors like flight route, radar cross-section, altitude, and velocity. Forward air bases, radar and missile sites, nuclear facilities, space installations, power plants, and industrial centers, will be protected by the IADWS. [61] The system is scalable and adaptable in order to defend against drone-based, hypersonic, and nuclear threats. [62] It will be merged with Akashteer and IACCS. [63]

Testing

  • 23 August 2025: The first flight tests of the Integrated Air Defence Weapon System (IADWS) were successfully carried out by DRDO at the Integrated Test Range. Two high-speed fixed-wing UAVs and a multicopter were engaged concurrently by QRSAM, VSHORAD, and a 5 kW DEW at various altitudes and ranges during the test. Captured data from ITR's range instruments confirmed that all system components—radars, command and control, communication, drone identification and destruction system, and missiles—performed in unison for multi-layered area defense. [64] [65] [66] [67]

International collaboration

In a media briefing on August 20, 2025, Russian chargé d'affaires to India Roman Babushkin discussed Russia's readiness to support Mission Sudarshan Chakra. [68]

Assessment

According to a retired Indian Army official, the main goal of creating a national shield is essentially unachievable because no nation has achieved this level of coverage. In addition to pointing out a significant financial burden, he suggested strategic moderation and focused conventional force enhancements as superior substitutes. [69]

See also

Other nations
General concepts

References

  1. Rawat, Megha (25 August 2025). "India Tests Indigenous Air Defence System, Accelerating 'Mission Sudarshan Chakra' Goals For 2035". Times Now. Retrieved 25 August 2025.
  2. 1 2 Srinivasan, Chandrashekar (15 August 2025). "'Sudarshan Chakra' To Protect Our Skies. India's 'Iron Dome' Explained". ndtv.com. Retrieved 15 August 2025.
  3. Trivedi, Saurabh (2025-08-15). "PM Modi announces 'Sudarshan Chakra' project to boost defence shield". The Hindu. ISSN   0971-751X . Retrieved 2025-08-15.
  4. Thakur, Rajesh Kumar (2025-08-15). "From Sudarshan Chakra defence system to demographic mission: Key takeaways from PM Modi's I-Day speech". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 2025-08-15.
  5. Qureshi, Tahir (2025-08-15). "PM Modi talks about Mission Sudarshan Chakra from Red Fort, is this ballistic missile defence system of India like Israel's Iron Dome?". india.com. Retrieved 2025-08-17.
  6. "India's iron dome? PM Modi promises new Sudarshan Chakra defence system to thwart enemy attacks". Hindustan Times. 2025-08-15. Retrieved 2025-08-19.
  7. "PM Modi's 'Sudarshan Chakra' vow: A national shield for Naya Bharat by 2035". ETManufacturing.in. 2025-08-15. Retrieved 2025-08-17.
  8. 1 2 3 4 Philip, Snehesh Alex (2025-08-15). "What is Project Sudarshan Chakra, announced by Modi from ramparts of Red Fort". ThePrint. Retrieved 2025-08-16.
  9. Pratap, Rishabh Madhavendra (2025-08-26). "Sudarshan Chakra Mission: India's Answer To Iron Dome To Shield Nation's Skies". Times Now. Retrieved 2025-08-26.
  10. Dutta, Amrita Nayak (2025-08-16). "'Sudarshan Chakra' defence shield and indigenous jet engine push: What Modi's I-Day speech has for defence establishment". The Indian Express. Retrieved 2025-08-16.
  11. 1 2 3 Kumar, Bhaswar (15 August 2025). "PM unveils 'Mission Sudarshan Chakra'; pushes for Made-in-India jet engines". Business Standard . Retrieved 17 August 2025.
  12. Srinivasan, Chandrashekar (15 August 2025). "'Sudarshan Chakra' To Protect Our Skies. India's 'Iron Dome' Explained". ndtv.com. Retrieved 15 August 2025.
  13. "Sudarshan Chakra Mission: India to develop powerful weapon system; all you need to know about 'Rashtriya Suraksha Kavach'". The Times of India. 2025-08-15. ISSN   0971-8257 . Retrieved 2025-08-15.
  14. Kumari, Shweta (2025-08-15). "PM Modi Announces 'Mission Sudarshan Chakra', Vows To Defend India's Interests Amid Global Pressures". Zee News. Retrieved 2025-08-19.
  15. Dasgupta, Binayak (2022-04-08). "Chinese hackers targeted 7 Indian power hubs, govt says ops failed". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 2025-08-16.
  16. Manhas, Neeraj Singh (11 August 2023). "From the Border to Cyberspace: Investigating the Post-Galwan Escalation of Chinese Cyber Attacks against India". lkyspp.nus.edu.sg. Retrieved 16 August 2025.
  17. Sanger, David E.; Schmall, Emily (2021-02-28). "China Appears to Warn India: Push Too Hard and the Lights Could Go Out". The New York Times . Retrieved 2025-08-16.
  18. Patil, Sameer (2022-04-18). "Expanding Chinese cyber-espionage threat against India". orfonline.org. Retrieved 2025-08-16.
  19. "Pakistan's drone and missile attacks targeting the Golden Temple in Amritsar were thwarted: Indian Army". The Hindu. 2025-05-19. ISSN   0971-751X . Retrieved 2025-08-17.
  20. Swami, Praveen (2025-08-10). "ThePrint Exclusive: Asim Munir's India nuke threat from US ballroom—'will take half the world down'". ThePrint. Retrieved 2025-08-16.
  21. Shahzad, Asif; Shahzad, Asif (2025-08-14). "Pakistan to create military force to supervise missiles after India conflict". Reuters. Retrieved 2025-08-16.
  22. Gupta, Shishir (2025-08-16). "Sudarshan Chakra will neutralise aerial threats to India". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 2025-08-17.
  23. 1 2 3 Linganna, Girish (2025-08-16). "Explainer: Why does India need Sudarshan Chakra?". english.mathrubhumi.com. Retrieved 2025-08-16.
  24. 1 2 Srinivasan, Chandrashekar (15 August 2025). "'Sudarshan Chakra' To Protect Our Skies. India's 'Iron Dome' Explained". ndtv.com. Retrieved 15 August 2025.
  25. Banerjee, Aveek (2025-08-15). "Mission Sudarshan Chakra: PM Modi Announces Tech Shield To Thwart, Strike Back At Attacks On India". News18. Retrieved 2025-08-19.
  26. Rao, Lingamgunta Nirmitha (2025-08-15). "What is the 'Sudarshan Chakra Mission' that PM Modi announced in his I-Day speech?". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 2025-08-15.
  27. "Sudarshan Chakra project will need huge tri-services efforts: CDS Chauhan". Business Standard . 26 August 2025. Retrieved 26 August 2025.
  28. Pandit, Rajat (2025-08-16). "Months after Operation Sindoor, India plans its own 'Iron Dome'". ETManufacturing.in. Retrieved 2025-08-17.
  29. 1 2 3 Pubby, Manu (2025-08-15). "PM launches 'Sudarshan Chakra' Mission for national security shield". The Economic Times. ISSN   0013-0389 . Retrieved 2025-08-17.
  30. Siddiqui, Imran Ahmed (27 August 2025). "India's double-action 'Iron Dome': Mission Sudarshan Chakra to blend AI, quantum tech". telegraphindia.com. Retrieved 28 August 2025.
  31. Singh, Rahul (2025-08-26). "Mission Sudarshan Chakra will require colossal amount of integration: CDS". Hindustan Times . Retrieved 2025-08-26.
  32. Kumar, Bhaswar (26 August 2025). "Mission Sudarshan Chakra requires colossal integration of capabilities: CDS". Business Standard . Retrieved 26 August 2025.
  33. Parashar, Shipra (2025-08-15). "India to develop Sudarshan Chakra defence system against rising threats by 2035: PM". India Today. Retrieved 2025-08-15.
  34. Sharma, Aalok Sen (2025-08-15). "Mission 'Sudarshan Chakra': India's Iron Dome-like air defence system inspired from Lord Krishna". India TV News. Retrieved 2025-08-15.
  35. ""Every Citizen Must Feel Protected": PM Modi Announces 'Mission Sudarshan Chakra'". ndtv.com. 15 August 2025. Retrieved 15 August 2025.
  36. "Mission Sudarshan Chakra: PM Modi reveals real world strike back weapon system for India". BusinessToday. 2025-08-15. Retrieved 2025-08-15.
  37. Mukul, Sushim (2025-08-15). "Cue from Krishna for India's Iron Dome. What's Sudarshan Chakra Mission?". India Today. Retrieved 2025-08-15.
  38. "Sudarshan Chakra Mission: Inspired by Lord Krishna, India's Iron Dome-like system will not only defend but also punish the enemy". The Economic Times. 2025-08-15. ISSN   0013-0389 . Retrieved 2025-08-15.
  39. "PM Modi announces 'Mission Sudarshan Chakra' to secure key establishments with indigenous technology". Telangana Today. 2025-08-15. Retrieved 2025-08-16.
  40. Ray, Kalyan (2025-08-15). "Defence Upgrade: India to Build Indigenous 'Sudarshan Chakra' Shield in 10 Years". Deccan Herald. Retrieved 2025-08-17.
  41. Kapoor, Air Marshal RGK (2025-08-26). "India's "Golden Dome"! From Drones To Hypersonic Missiles, Here's How Sudarshan Chakra Will Defend India". eurasiantimes.com. Retrieved 2025-08-26.
  42. 1 2 Pandit, Rajat (2025-08-16). "Months after Sindoor, India plans its own 'Iron Dome'". The Times of India. ISSN   0971-8257 . Retrieved 2025-08-17.
  43. "PM Modi announces Mission Sudarshan Chakra in I-Day speech: All about the 'Suraksha Kavach' that will protect India's skies". moneycontrol.com. Retrieved 15 August 2025.
  44. Roy, Subhrajit (2025-08-16). "DNA Decodes Mission Sudarshan Chakra: The Brahmastra Even More Powerful Than BrahMos". Zee News. Retrieved 2025-08-19.
  45. Pandit, Rajat (2025-08-16). "Mission Sudarshan Chakra: Multi-layered air & missile shield integrated with offensive weapons". The Times of India. ISSN   0971-8257 . Retrieved 2025-08-16.
  46. Tripathi, Vidhee (2025-08-15). "PM Modi Unveils Mission Sudarshan Chakra: India's Integrated Defense System". jagranjosh.com. Retrieved 2025-08-16.
  47. Qureshi, Tahir (2025-08-24). "India's powerful Sudarshan Chakra ready for action, tested by DRDO, crushed Pakistan in Operation Sindoor". india.com. Retrieved 2025-08-25.
  48. Patel, Raghav (2025-02-08). "IAF to Forward Deploy Dharashakti EW Systems Near China-Pak Fronts, Enhancing Jamming Against Enemy AEWCS, Fighter Radars and SAR". Defence News India. Retrieved 2025-08-19.
  49. Linganna, Girish (2024-01-10). "DRDO 2k23: Glorious Year of Achievements »". defencexp.com. Retrieved 2025-08-19.
  50. "Data Patterns (India)". capitalmarket.com. 2021-12-11. Archived from the original on 2022-05-18. Retrieved 2025-08-19.
  51. "Mistral Solutions Wins Major Order from BEL for Advanced Radar Systems". The Financial Express. 2024-05-27. Retrieved 2025-08-19.
  52. "Defence Ministry signs ₹3,700-crore contracts for radars, radar warning receivers". The Hindu. 2023-03-23. ISSN   0971-751X . Retrieved 2025-08-19.
  53. "Medium Power Radar (MPR) - Arudhra" (PDF). Defence Research and Development Organisation. Retrieved 19 August 2025.
  54. "With the theme 'Raksha Kavach - Multilayer Protection against Multi-domain Threats', DRDO to showcase path-breaking innovations during Republic Day Parade 2025". Press Information Bureau . Ministry of Defence, Government of India. 23 January 2025. Retrieved 19 August 2025.
  55. Mandal, Sohini (2025-02-13). "Aero India 2025: DRDO unveils Raksha Kavach protection system concept". janes.com. Retrieved 2025-08-19.
  56. "India's Integrated Air Defence Weapon System clears maiden flight test". The Economic Times. 2025-08-24. ISSN   0013-0389 . Retrieved 2025-08-24.
  57. Dutta, Amrita Nayak (2025-08-25). "DRDO successfully tests indigenous air defence system, advancing 'Mission Sudarshan Chakra' goals for 2035". The Indian Express. Retrieved 2025-08-25.
  58. Singh, Rahul (2025-08-25). "India tightens shield, tests crucial air defence system". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 2025-08-25.
  59. "How India's skies will be safer with home-grown Integrated Air Defence Weapon System". Firstpost. 2025-08-25. Retrieved 2025-08-25.
  60. "Mission Sudarshan Chakra: Inside PM Modi's Lord Krishna-inspired, India's 'Aatmanirbhar' Iron Dome". The Financial Express. 2025-08-15. Retrieved 2025-08-15.
  61. Rana, Javaria (2025-08-24). "India's multi-layer ADS maiden test successful, what is Integrated Air Defence Weapon System". ThePrint. Retrieved 2025-08-25.
  62. Janardhanan, Vinod (2025-08-25). "Towards Mission Sudarshan Chakra: Why India's successful test of Integrated Air Defence Weapon System matters". Wion. Retrieved 2025-08-26.
  63. Jain, Karishma (2025-08-25). "Successful IADWS Test Marks India's Next Leap In Air Defence: Here's How The System Works". News18. Retrieved 2025-08-26.
  64. "DRDO successfully conducts maiden flight-tests of Integrated Air Defence Weapon System". Press Information Bureau . Ministry of Defence, Government of India. 24 August 2025. Retrieved 24 August 2025.
  65. "DRDO successfully conducts maiden flight tests of Integrated Air Defence Weapon System". ANI. 2025-08-24. Retrieved 2025-08-24.
  66. Pubby, Manu (2025-08-25). "Sudarshan Chakra air defence system completes successful maiden test". The Economic Times. ISSN   0013-0389 . Retrieved 2025-08-25.
  67. Dutta, Amrita Nayak (2025-08-26). "'Sudarshan Chakra' will be India's shield and sword, but needs massive integration, says CDS Anil Chauhan". The Indian Express. Retrieved 2025-08-26.
  68. Laskar, Rezaul H (2025-08-20). "Moscow expects to join Sudarshan Chakra air defence shield: Russian official". Hindustan Times . Retrieved 2025-08-28.
  69. Sharma, Ritwik (2025-08-25). "Sudarshan Chakra Mission: Shielding the nation from aerial attacks". The Financial Express. Retrieved 2025-08-26.