News: Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the launch of Mission Sudarshan Chakra on August 15, 2025, during his Independence Day address from the Red Fort.
About Mission Sudarshan Chakra
- It is India’s ambitious plan to build a multi-layered integrated air and missile defence shield.
- The project aims to provide a complete nationwide security cover by the year 2035.
- The mission is designed to provide security to all critical and strategic locations across India.
- It will protect sensitive defence facilities, nuclear installations, and vital national infrastructure. Civilian areas such as hospitals, railways, and centres of faith will also receive protection under the shield.
Key Features
- The shield will consist of multiple layers of protection using land-based, sea-based, and space-based systems.
- It will employ advanced early-warning and tracking sensors integrated with space assets for real-time threat detection.
- A strong command and control system will ensure rapid decision-making and coordinated responses.
- The system will rely on advanced interceptor missiles capable of neutralising aircraft, drones, ballistic missiles, and cruise missiles.
- Mission Sudarshan Chakra is not limited to defensive measures but will also integrate offensive strike capabilities.
- The system will incorporate new weapons such as the 500-kilometre range quasi-ballistic missile Pralay.
- A new 1,000-kilometre subsonic long-range land-attack cruise missile will be deployed for targeted strikes.
- The strike range of the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile will be increased from 450 kilometres to 800 kilometres.
- Mission Sudarshan Chakra is conceptually similar to Israel’s Iron Dome and the United States’ proposed Golden Dome. However, unlike these systems, India’s shield will operate on a much larger scale and will include integrated offensive weaponry.
