Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Independence Day announcement of Mission Sudarshan Chakra represents India’s most ambitious defence modernisation initiative, aimed at establishing a comprehensive multi-layered aerial defence shield by 2035.
This indigenous program, drawing inspiration from Lord Krishna’s legendary weapon, will create a sophisticated network combining defensive capabilities with precision strike systems to protect India’s critical infrastructure and strategic assets.
Strategic Vision And Comprehensive Scope
Mission Sudarshan Chakra emerges as a transformative defence initiative designed to address evolving security challenges across multiple domains. The system will integrate advanced surveillance, cyber protection, and physical infrastructure safeguards into a unified framework,
providing coverage for strategic, civilian, and religious sites throughout India. The mission represents a significant departure from reactive defence strategies, embracing a proactive approach that anticipates and counters threats before they materialise.
The initiative encompasses more than traditional missile defence, incorporating anti-cyber warfare measures to neutralise digital threats including hacking and phishing attempts. This comprehensive approach reflects modern warfare’s multi-dimensional nature, where threats emerge simultaneously from aerial, cyber, and conventional domains. The system’s design philosophy emphasises “plus-one” strategic thinking, creating mechanisms to calculate future scenarios and develop strategies that maintain India’s technological superiority against any adversary capabilities.
Foundation Systems And Current Capabilities
ranges extending to 400 kilometres and the ability to track multiple targets simultaneously, the S-400 provides comprehensive coverage against stealth aircraft, fighter jets, drones, and ballistic missiles.
The indigenous Akash missile system and the Indo-Israeli Barak-8 complement these capabilities, forming multiple defensive layers. The Akash Prime variant, successfully tested at altitudes exceeding 15,000 feet in Ladakh, demonstrated enhanced seeker technology for improved accuracy in extreme terrain conditions. These systems collectively intercepted numerous Pakistani aerial threats during recent conflicts, validating the multi-layered defence concept central to Mission Sudarshan Chakra.
Project Kusha: The Indigenous Cornerstone
Project Kusha represents the indigenous heart of Mission Sudarshan Chakra, serving as India’s answer to advanced foreign defence systems. This Extended Range Air Defence System (ERADS) features three interceptor variants: the M1 interceptor for 150-kilometre range threats, the M2 for 250-kilometre engagements, and the M3 variant extending to 350-400 kilometres. The system incorporates dual-seeker technology combining radar and infrared guidance, along with AI-enabled decision support for coordinated intercepts and real-time data processing from satellites, radars, and UAVs.
