India is rapidly advancing its multi‑layered air defence shield, a comprehensive initiative aimed at protecting the nation’s airspace from a wide range of aerial threats including drones, fighter jets, cruise missiles and ballistic missiles through a combination of indigenous systems and strategic partnerships.
The cornerstone of this effort is Mission Sudarshan Chakra, a bold defence project announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in August 2025, which envisions a fully integrated air and missile defence shield by 2035. Inspired by the legendary Sudarshan Chakra of Lord Krishna, the mission aims to build a nationwide protective network safeguarding critical strategic, civilian and infrastructure sites.
India’s layered shield combines advanced ground‑based air defence weapons, indigenous interceptor missiles developed under Project Kusha, existing systems such as the Russian‑designed S‑400 Triumf long‑range surface‑to‑air missile system, and integrated sensors and command networks.
In August 2025, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully conducted maiden flight tests of an Integrated Air Defence Weapon System (IADWS) off the coast of Odisha, featuring rapid‑reaction surface‑to‑air missiles and high‑power directed energy weapons a key milestone toward realising the shield’s capabilities.
The ambition behind Mission Sudarshan Chakra is to fuse radars, missiles, surveillance systems and AI‑enabled command networks into a coordinated defence umbrella, ensuring real‑time threat tracking and engagement across the full spectrum of aerial dangers.
By integrating indigenous systems like the Quick Reaction Surface‑to‑Air Missile (QRSAM), Very Short Range Air Defence (VSHORADS) and expanding existing networks such as the Integrated Air Command and Control System (IACCS), India aims to remain ahead of evolving threats while fostering self‑reliance in defence technology.
Officials say that while the shield’s full deployment will take years with phased rollouts beginning in the late 2020s early advancements mark a significant leap in safeguarding Indian skies and enhancing national security preparedness.
