What Is Mission Sudarshan Chakra? India’s Iron Dome Plan

On 15th August 2025, during India’s 79th Independence Day celebrations, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced Mission Sudarshan Chakra.

This was not just another PM Modi security initiative. It was a national security shield by 2035, designed to provide strategic and civilian protection. For the first time, it promised to safeguard hospitals, temples, dams, refineries, and cities, not just military bases. It envisioned next-generation systems like space-based interceptors, capable of stopping enemy missiles in their earliest moments of flight.

For me, this was more than a defence announcement. It was a message to every Indian: “We are building a shield for you.”

Mission Sudarshan Chakra Explained

So, what is Mission Sudarshan Chakra in Modi’s Independence Day speech?

It is a multi-layered defence shield that combines missile and drone interception, advanced surveillance integration, and precision strike capability.

This shield will be powered by:

• Indigenous defence technology under self-reliance in defence (Aatmanirbhar Bharat)
• Radars, satellites, AWACS aircraft, and interceptor missiles
• A focus on defence modernisation by merging current systems with future technologies

In simple terms, it is India’s Indigenous Iron Dome-like defence system, but broader in scope and designed for both deterrence and protection.

Why India Named It the Sudarshan Chakra

The name comes from Lord Krishna’s Sudarshan Chakra, a mythological weapon of speed, precision, and unstoppable power.

By invoking this name, India is symbolising a shield that defends and deters. For me, this cultural connection makes the mission deeply Indian, rooted in heritage, yet futuristic in vision.

India’s Missile Defence Journey: From Project Kusha to Sudarshan Chakra

India’s missile defence journey began decades ago:

• PAD and AAD tests in the 2000s proved India could intercept missiles.
• BMD Phase I and II achieved endo-atmospheric and exo-atmospheric intercepts.
• Project Kusha developed deployable BMD interceptors.
• Operation Sindoor reflected earlier strategic defence planning.

Now, Mission Sudarshan Chakra builds on these efforts and unifies them into one Indian air defence shield.

Related: Project Kusha – India’s Long-Range Missile Defence Programme

Is Mission Sudarshan Chakra a New System or Existing Network?

Many ask: Is this a new futuristic system, or just an upgrade of existing missiles?

The truth: it is both evolutionary and revolutionary.

• Existing systems: Akash, QRSAM, MR-SAM, S-400, BMD interceptors
• Future technologies: XR-SAM, directed-energy weapons (lasers and microwaves), and space-based sensors
• New architecture: A national grid through IACCS (Integrated Air Command and Control System)

So it is not just one system, but a new nationwide structure that ties all layers into a living defence network.

What Missiles and Interceptors Are Part of Sudarshan Chakra?

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 battlefield formations.
• 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.

This multi-layered defence shield ensures India can counter drones, cruise missiles, ballistic missiles, and hypersonic threats.

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How Mission Sudarshan Chakra Will Protect Civilian Sites

Unlike traditional defence systems, this shield is designed for civilian protection as much as military security.

It will guard:

• Hospitals and healthcare infrastructure
• Religious landmarks — temples, mosques, gurdwaras, churches
• Energy hubs such as Reliance’s Jamnagar refinery
• Transport networks, including airports, metros, and railways
• Dams and reservoirs are vital for water and power

This reflects a unique Indian approach: national defence is not only about borders but also about people.

Pakistan’s Threats Show Why India Needs This Shield

Recently, Pakistan’s Army Chief, General Asim Munir, during his visit to the USA, remarked that in the event of conflict, India’s dams and Reliance refineries could be targeted.

Such threats highlight the urgency. Imagine the damage if a major dam on the Sindhu (Indus) River system or the Jamnagar Refinery were hit. Millions of lives and livelihoods could be disrupted.

Mission Sudarshan Chakra ensures that these civilian and economic hubs will be shielded under a national grid.

Mission Sudarshan Chakra vs Iron Dome vs S-500

My perspective: Iron Dome saves cities, S-500 secures space, but Sudarshan Chakra is a hybrid — protecting both civilians and strategy at once.

When Will Mission Sudarshan Chakra Be Operational?

The rollout will be phased:

• 2025–2030: Pilot in Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, and strategic bases
• 2030–2035: Expansion to cover dams, refineries, heritage sites, rail and power grids
• 2035: Nationwide integration into a national security shield

How Mission Sudarshan Chakra Aligns with Project Kusha

Some confuse the two. Here is the alignment:

• Project Kusha = focuses on ballistic missile defence interceptors (endo- and exo-atmospheric).
• Sudarshan Chakra = integrates Kusha + Akash + QRSAM + MR-SAM + XR-SAM + DEWs + AWACS into a single unified grid.

So, Kusha is one pillar, but Sudarshan Chakra is the entire fortress.

Future Vision: India’s Defence Beyond 2035

Mission Sudarshan Chakra also points to India’s future defence vision.

1. Space-based Sensors: For early detection of hypersonic weapons.
2. AI-driven Command Systems: Allowing real-time interception and counter-strikes.
3. Drone Swarms as Interceptors: Future swarms to take down enemy drones or missiles.
4. Next-generation Lasers: Instantly neutralising threats at the speed of light.

Space-Based Interceptors: India’s Next Big Leap

One of the most ambitious goals of Mission Sudarshan Chakra is the creation of space-based interceptors for boost-phase missile defence.

These are not ground-launched missiles but kill vehicles positioned in orbit, designed to strike an enemy launch in its first seconds of flight, when engines are burning and before warheads or decoys can deploy.

DRDO’s concept combines:

• Orbital kill vehicles capable of ultra-fast interception
• Satellite constellations feeding data into IACCS
• AI-driven fire control optimised for ballistic and hypersonic threats

Few nations have even attempted this, and if India succeeds, it will mark a leap into a domain long dominated by US “Star Wars” experiments and Russian space-defence studies.

For me, this vision captures the true ambition of Sudarshan Chakra: to give India the ability to stop a threat at its birth, before it ever reaches the sky.

What is the Cost of Mission Sudarshan Chakra?

The cost of the Sudarshan Chakra is not officially declared, but estimates suggest tens of billions of dollars will be needed.

This will make it one of India’s most expensive yet most vital defence modernisation projects, seen as an insurance policy for national survival.

Can India Export Mission Sudarshan Chakra Components?

Yes. India already exports Akash missiles, radars, and UAVs.

Through this mission, export potential will grow:

• Akash-NG, QRSAM, and advanced radars could attract buyers in Asia and Africa.
• The success of the shield strengthens India as a global defence exporter.

Geopolitical Context: China and Pakistan

India’s neighbourhood explains the urgency:

• China: Fields DF-17 hypersonic missiles and advanced air defence.
• Pakistan: Has Babur cruise missiles and MIRV-capable Ababeel.

Mission Sudarshan Chakra is India’s balancing response to these threats.

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Technology Integration: How the Shield Will Work

This mission is more than weapons. It is an integrated network:

• Radars: LRTR, MFCR, AESA radars
• AWACS: Netra MkII for real-time airborne surveillance
• Satellites: Early warning sensors in orbit
• Command: IACCS connecting all nodes
• Weapons: Interceptors and directed-energy weapons

This makes it a true living defence shield.

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Mission Sudarshan Chakra and Aatmanirbhar Bharat

The mission is part of the Aatmanirbhar defence initiative.

• Builds indigenous defence technology
• Complements the jet engine indigenous development for AMCA and TEDBF
• Generates jobs through private industry, like L&T, Tata, Bharat Forge
• Reduces reliance on imports and boosts self-reliance in defence

Challenges India Faces in Building the Shield

1. Cost of the Sudarshan Chakra: Billions of dollars
2. Cybersecurity: Protecting IACCS against hacking
3. Integration: Blending old and new systems
4. India Mission Sudarshan Chakra Timeline: Meeting the 2035 goal will be tough

Why Mission Sudarshan Chakra Matters for Every Indian

The most powerful aspect of this mission is its civilian focus.

This is not just about defending borders. It is about ordinary people knowing their cities, hospitals, and landmarks are safe.

By 2035, India will join the US, Russia, and Israel in fielding a nationwide multi-layered missile defence shield.

Conclusion

Mission Sudarshan Chakra is India’s Indigenous Iron Dome-like defence system, built as a multi-layered defence shield for both strategic and civilian protection.

It represents precision strike capability, missile and drone interception, advanced surveillance integration, indigenous defence technology, and defence modernisation.

Aligned with self-reliance in defence (Aatmanirbhar Bharat), it is both a shield for citizens and a symbol of India’s future readiness.

For me, this is not just about interceptors or radars. It is about confidence. India is declaring: “We will not only fight wars, we will prevent them, by shielding our people.”