Delivering his address to the nation on the 79th Independence Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday announced that India will launch 'Mission Sudarshan Chakra' to "expand, strengthen, and modernise" the national security shield. The homegrown defence shield is expected to be fully operational by 2035, the Prime Minister declared at the Red Fort.
Highlighting the mission's launch, the PM said the initiative would bolster New Delhi's offensive and defensive capabilities with a "Rashtriya Suraksha Kavach"—a robust national shield for critical assets—in a probable Indian version of the ‘Iron Dome’. For the unversed, the Iron Dome is a mobile, all-weather air defence system developed by Israel with the primary objective to intercept and destroy projectiles and artillery shells fired by the enemy mid-air before they can hit Israeli territory. It is comprised of radars, Battle Management and Weapon Control (BMC) and missile batteries and units.
'Mission Sudarshan Chakra'
The objective of the comprehensive security initiative is to ensure that India's assets, infrastructure and civilians are protected by multiple layers of defensive mechanisms involving modern surveillance and technology. Apart from state-of-the-art physical defensive measures, 'Mission Sudarshan Chakra' will also include cybersecurity measures, specifically designed to deal with the security challenges faced by India.
"Like the precision of the Sudarshan Chakra, we will also make arrangements for targeted missile action," the Prime Minister said. This indicated that the project will involve machinery to effectively neutralise any kind of attack launched by the enemy and the capability to retaliate effectively.
"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," PM Modi said.
While 'Mission Sudarshan Chakra' remains secret and under wraps, it is understood to involve collaborative efforts between the country's research organisations, defence bodies and even some private players, the Times Of India (TOI) said in a report.
Operation readiness of the Indian armed forces
Modi hailed Operation Sindoor as a milestone in India’s defence autonomy, underscoring that indigenously made weapons and systems now enable the country to act decisively without foreign dependence.
Prime Minister Modi asserted that India will not tolerate nuclear threats or fall for any blackmail, in a direct message to Pakistan. He hailed the destruction inflicted by the armed forces in Pakistan, a direct reply to Pakistani army chief Asim Munir, who had recently spoken of a nuclear threat in the USA and destroying a dam if India builds one to block Indus water. “India has decided, blood and water will not flow together. The Indus Waters Treaty is unjust as the water was flowing to enemies rather than helping our farmers,” Modi said.