Explained: Mission Sudarshan Chakra

India’s Multi-Layered Air and Missile Defence Shield

India has taken a decisive step towards building its own version of the Iron Dome. Following the successful test of the Integrated Air Defence Weapon System (IADWS), Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced “Mission Sudarshan Chakra”, a nationwide shield to protect cities, military bases, and critical assets from air and missile attacks. Designed to counter threats from drones to hypersonic missiles, the mission will combine missiles, lasers, radars, and cyber defence.

Mission Sudarshan Chakra is an ambitious Indian national security initiative announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on August 15, 2025. The goal of the mission is to develop an indigenous, multi-layered air and missile defense shield to protect India’s critical strategic and civilian infrastructure by 2035.

On 15 August, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced Mission Sudarshan Chakra, a long-term project to build a nationwide defence system that will intercept incoming threats and also strike back at the source. Days later, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) validated this vision by successfully testing the Integrated Air Defence Weapon System (IADWS) off the Odisha coast.

Together, these two developments point to a shift in India’s defence posture: from relying on imported systems to fielding a homegrown, multi-layered shield.

The initiative is named after the mythical Sudarshan Chakra, the divine discus of Lord Vishnu, known for its precision in neutralizing enemies. This inspiration reinforces the mission’s dual goals of defensive protection and decisive counter-action.

Key features

Comprehensive security: The system is intended to protect vital national sites, including military installations, government buildings, hospitals, and railway networks, from aerial threats such as missiles and drones.
Indigenous development: The entire system, from its research and development to manufacturing, will be undertaken within India to ensure self-reliance in defence technology. This is intended to boost India’s defence manufacturing capabilities, including the development of a domestic fighter jet engine.
Advanced technology: The mission will leverage cutting-edge technologies like artificial intelligence (AI), big data, and large language models for real-time threat detection and response. It will also integrate cyber defence capabilities to protect against digital space attacks.
“Shield and sword” capabilities: As described by Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan, the system will act as both a defensive shield and an offensive “sword.” It will neutralize incoming threats using a combination of “soft kill” (cyber measures) and “hard kill” (kinetic weapons) options, while also enabling powerful counterstrikes against adversaries.
Offensive capability expansion: The mission points to an expansion of India’s conventional missile arsenal. This includes inducting the Pralay quasi-ballistic missile and a new subsonic land-attack cruise missile, along with increasing the range of existing missiles like the BrahMos.

The IADWS test

On 23 August, DRDO’s IADWS destroyed three targets simultaneously — two high-speed unmanned aerial vehicles and a multi-copter drone — at different altitudes and ranges.
The system integrates three technologies. The Quick Reaction Surface-to-Air Missile (QRSAM) covers aircraft, helicopters, drones, and missiles within 30 km. The Very Short Range Air Defence System (VSHORADS) provides portable, low-altitude cover. And the Directed Energy Weapon (DEW), using high-powered lasers, can disable aerial threats within 3.5 km.

How a modern IADWS works

The key idea behind an Integrated Air Defence System (IADS) is speed and coordination. Aircraft and missiles today travel at supersonic or hypersonic speeds, leaving only seconds to react. No single missile or radar can handle everything. An IADS combines radars, communication links, and missile batteries into one network, so that the closest, most effective weapon can engage the threat.

India’s multi-layered Air and Missile Defence System

This initiative integrates both indigenous and imported weapon systems to create a protective dome over critical strategic and civilian areas.

Command and control systems

The defence shield is anchored by a sophisticated, automated, and networked command structure to coordinate assets across all the three armed services.

Integrated Air Command and Control System (IACCS): The central nervous system of India’s air defence, operated by the Indian Air Force. It integrates data from various radars, missile systems, and airborne platforms to generate a real-time air defence picture. During Operation Sindoor in May 2025, the IACCS effectively managed India’s response to aerial threats from Pakistan.
Akashteer System: The Indian Army’s automated air defence control and reporting system, designed to provide battlefield surveillance and coordinate ground-based air defense assets. It operates autonomously, with AI-driven capabilities for rapid threat analysis and engagement.

Tri-service integration: Akashteer is being integrated with the IAF’s IACCS and the Indian Navy’s TRIGUN system to create a unified and seamless air defence network.

Long-range air and missile defence

The outermost layer of the shield intercepts long-range, high-value targets, such as ballistic missiles and high-altitude aircraft.

Ballistic Missile Defence (BMD) Program: A multi-tiered system with two phases designed to intercept missiles with ranges up to 5,000 km.
- Phase I (up to 2,000 km): Uses exo-atmospheric (outside the atmosphere) and endo-atmospheric (inside the atmosphere) interceptors like the Prithvi Air Defence (PAD) and Advanced Air Defence (AAD) missiles.
- Phase II (up to 5,000 km+): Features the AD-1 and AD-2 interceptor missiles, with successful tests of the AD-1 conducted in 2024. India also plans to develop space-based interceptors for boost-phase interception.
S-400 Triumf: India has acquired five regiments of this Russian-made long-range air defence system, with three already deployed along the borders with China and Pakistan. The S-400 can intercept aircraft, drones, and cruise/ballistic missiles up to 400 km away.
Project Kusha (Indigenous LR-SAM): A long-range surface-to-air missile (LR-SAM) system being developed domestically to match the S-400’s capabilities. Test flights are planned to begin as early as 2026, with induction expected around 2028–2030.

Medium- to short-range defence

This layer protects against tactical threats like cruise missiles, fighter jets, and drones, acting as a closer-range defence for critical assets.

Akash Missile System: An indigenously developed mobile, medium-range surface-to-air missile (SAM) with a range of up to 45 km, deployed with both the Army and Air Force.
Barak 8: A joint India-Israel medium- and long-range SAM system (MR-SAM/LR-SAM) used by all three services, effective against aircraft, drones, and missiles.
Integrated Air Defence Weapon System (IADWS): A new indigenous multi-layered system developed by DRDO, with a maiden test successfully conducted in August 2025. It combines Quick Reaction SAMs (QRSAM, up to 30 km range), Very Short-Range Air Defence Systems (VSHORADS, up to 6 km range), and a high-power laser-based Directed Energy Weapon (DEW, up to 3.5 km).

Close-in and anti-drone defences

The innermost layer protects specific, high-value sites from immediate, short-range threats.

Counter-drone systems: India uses a combination of “soft kill” measures (like RF jammers) and “hard kill” options (like laser DEWs) to counter drone swarms and individual UAVs. The Akashteer system and the IADWS test highlight this focus.
VSHORADS (Very Short Range Air Defence System): A shoulder-fired, man-portable system for close-range, low-altitude threats. Successful developmental trials were completed in 2024, paving the way for induction.

Legacy and supplementary systems: Older, battle-proven platforms, including anti-aircraft guns and other SAM systems, are maintained for redundancy and to address gaps in coverage.

How is India preparing for the age of drones, stealth fighter jets, and hypersonic missiles?

India is preparing for the age of drones, stealth fighter jets, and hypersonic missiles through a comprehensive, multi-domain strategy that emphasizes indigenous development, advanced technology, and integrated defense systems. The strategy covers both offensive and defensive capabilities, with a focus on self-reliance under the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative.

India’s drone strategy includes developing and deploying advanced Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and robust counter-drone technology.

Offensive and surveillance capabilities:

Military drones: India is using drones for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR), as well as targeted strikes and electronic warfare missions.
Drone swarms and loitering munitions: The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and private startups are developing AI-powered drone swarm technologies and kamikaze drones for precision strikes, learning from conflicts in Ukraine and elsewhere.
Civil-military fusion: Commercial drones are being adapted for military use to enhance cost-effectiveness and scalability. The “Drone Shakti” scheme promotes the growth of startups and the use of drones across various sectors, including defense.

Counter-drone defences:

Integrated systems: India’s multi-layered counter-drone grid includes the Akashteer Integrated Air Defence Control System and mobile anti-drone platforms.
Advanced technology: defence systems employ a mix of Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar, Radio Frequency (RF) jammers, Electro-Optical (EO) sensors, and high-energy lasers to detect and neutralize enemy drones.
Indigenous development: DRDO’s anti-drone system offers 360-degree coverage, with both “soft kill” (jamming) and “hard kill” (laser) options. The homegrown Bhargavastra system is designed specifically to counter drone swarms.

Stealth fighter jets:

India is developing its own fifth-generation stealth fighter, the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), to maintain air superiority.

Timeline: The government has approved the project for five prototypes, with rollout expected in 2026–2027 and the first flight in 2028. The first squadrons are projected to be inducted around 2034.
Indigenous design: The AMCA is being developed by the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) and features advanced stealth characteristics, internal weapons bays, and AI-driven combat assistance.
Engine development: India is collaborating with France’s Safran to co-develop and co-produce a powerful 120 kN engine for the AMCA Mark 2 variant. An agreement is also in place with the US’s General Electric to produce the F414 engine for the initial AMCA Mark 1 and Tejas Mark 2 aircraft.
Public-private partnership: The project promotes collaboration between public sector companies like Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and private players to accelerate development and production, a first for a major defence project in India.

Hypersonic missiles

India has demonstrated its hypersonic capabilities and is actively developing both hypersonic glide vehicles (HGVs) and hypersonic cruise missiles (HCMs).

Hypersonic Technology Demonstrator Vehicle (HSTDV): Following a successful scramjet engine test in 2020, India has been testing the HSTDV, which serves as a building block for future hypersonic weapons.
Long-range hypersonic missile: In November 2024, India successfully tested a long-range hypersonic missile (ET-LDHCM) with a range of over 1,500 km and in-flight manoeuvrability, capable of carrying various payloads.
Scramjet engine development: Advanced ground tests of scramjet combustors have been successfully conducted in 2025, demonstrating stable combustion and thermal-structural resilience at hypersonic speeds.
Future development: DRDO plans to complete developmental trials for a hypersonic glide vehicle in the next few years. India is also working on a new hypersonic variant of the BrahMos missile.

Why is an Integrated Air Defence System Crucial for India?

An integrated air defence system is crucial for India because it provides comprehensive, multi-layered protection against a wide range of modern aerial threats from its adversarial neighbours, Pakistan and China. By combining different systems under a single command structure, India can achieve greater effectiveness, speed, and strategic autonomy.

Strategic benefits

Neutralizing diverse and advanced threats: An integrated system enables India to counter a spectrum of aerial threats, including high-speed aircraft, cruise missiles, ballistic missiles, and an increasing number of drones and loitering munitions. For instance, a Directed Energy Weapon (DEW) can effectively neutralise low-altitude drones and swarm attacks, while long-range missiles can intercept enemy fighter jets at much greater distances.
Defending against a two-front war: With military threats from both China and Pakistan, an integrated system is vital for India’s preparedness. It enables the armed forces to simultaneously protect critical assets and counter threats across multiple fronts, such as the northern borders in Ladakh and the western border.
Strengthening national security: A robust air defence shield protects India’s sovereignty by preventing unauthorised airspace entry. It serves as a deterrent to adversaries, as the high likelihood of interception makes an air attack less viable.

Building upon India’s robust defence initiatives like Mission Sudarshan Chakra, the way forward involves prioritizing deeper indigenous development, enhancing systemic integration, and addressing emerging technological vulnerabilities. The strategy must shift from a collection of advanced platforms to a fully networked, autonomous defence ecosystem.

Ultimately, the most important initiative is a shift in mindset—from acquiring technology to mastering it and from conventional warfare to integrated, multi-domain operations.

Disclaimer: The article is based on the following sources of information: Newspaper Articles from ‘The Economic’ and drafts from Google AI.

Inspiration Study Circle provides a wide variety of information on the tips of your fingers. You can easily access us on WhatsApp, Facebook, and Instagram. Our website is frequently updated for the candidates’ benefit.

Inspiration Study Circle

Explained: Mission Sudarshan Chakra

Explained: Mission Sudarshan Chakra

India’s Multi-Layered Air and Missile Defence Shield

Key features

The IADWS test

How a modern IADWS works

India’s multi-layered Air and Missile Defence System

How is India preparing for the age of drones, stealth fighter jets, and hypersonic missiles?

Why is an Integrated Air Defence System Crucial for India?

Recent Post