New Delhi: India’s Mission Sudarshan Chakra is set to become one of the country’s biggest defence modernization projects, with phased deployment planned between 2030 and 2040. The announcement was made by Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh during the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) Annual Business Summit 2026 in New Delhi.
The ambitious programme aims to create a multi-layered missile defence shield capable of protecting India’s strategic assets, military bases, and major civilian infrastructure from aerial threats including ballistic missiles, drones, cruise missiles, and advanced enemy aircraft.
What is Mission Sudarshan Chakra?
Mission Sudarshan Chakra is India’s proposed next-generation integrated air and missile defence system. The project is expected to combine multiple indigenous defence technologies into a unified national shield.
The system is being developed as part of India’s long-term military transformation under the Defence Vision 2047 roadmap. According to officials, the mission will strengthen India’s ability to counter modern warfare threats in land, air, cyber, and space domains.
Mission Sudarshan Chakra: Defence Secretary Reveals Timeline
During his keynote speech at the CII summit, Rajesh Kumar Singh explained that India’s military modernization will happen in multiple stages.
He stated that:
- The transition phase will continue until 2030.
- The consolidation and maturity phase for Mission Sudarshan Chakra will run from 2030 to 2040.
- India aims to become a fully integrated and technologically advanced military power by 2047.
The Defence Secretary also highlighted that the project will help India project power across the Indo-Pacific region while improving national security preparedness.
Key Features Expected in the Mission Sudarshan Chakra
Experts believe Mission Sudarshan Chakra may include:
- Long-range missile interception systems
- Indigenous anti-ballistic missile technology
- Drone defence networks
- Advanced radar systems
- Space and satellite-linked surveillance
- AI-based threat detection
- Integrated command-and-control systems
The project is also expected to work alongside other Indian defence programmes such as DRDO’s long-range air defence initiatives and advanced drone warfare systems.
Strong Push for Indigenous Defence Manufacturing
The Indian government is focusing heavily on self-reliance in defence production under the “Make in India” initiative. Officials said future military systems will increasingly rely on domestically developed technologies.
According to Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh:
- India targets defence production worth ₹8.8 trillion by 2047.
- Defence exports could rise to ₹2.8 trillion.
- Indigenous military systems will become the backbone of future armed forces.
Why Mission Sudarshan Chakra Matters
The planned missile shield comes at a time when global warfare is rapidly changing. Modern conflicts increasingly involve:
- Hypersonic missiles
- Drone swarms
- Cyber warfare
- Space-based surveillance
- Long-range precision strikes
India’s proposed layered shield is intended to provide protection against these evolving threats while improving strategic deterrence capabilities.
Security experts believe the project could become India’s equivalent of advanced national missile defence networks operated by major military powers.
India’s Defence Vision 2047
Mission Sudarshan Chakra forms a major part of India’s broader Defence Vision 2047 strategy. The roadmap aims to transform the Indian military into a future-ready, integrated force by the 100th anniversary of India’s independence.
The vision document reportedly includes plans for:
- Space command
- Cyber command
- Drone force
- Defence geospatial systems
- Cognitive warfare units
- Integrated theatre commands
Officials say these changes are necessary to prepare India for future geopolitical and security challenges.
Read also: Inside IAF’s New AI-Driven Air Defence Shield to Counter Drone Swarms and Missile Threats in Seconds
