Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan stated that Mission Sudarshan Chakra, India’s proposed national defense shield, will be a “colossal” effort requiring the integration of a vast array of technologies and sensors. Speaking at the Ran Samwad military conclave in Mhow, he described the shield as both a defensive and offensive system, designed to protect strategic and civilian sites from aerial attacks.
The Vision for a Multi-Domain Shield
General Chauhan highlighted that the project, which Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced with a 10-year deadline, will involve multi-domain intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR). This will necessitate the integration of sensors from land, air, maritime, undersea, and space to create a clear and real-time picture of threats. He emphasized that advanced technologies like artificial intelligence and quantum computing will be essential for analyzing the massive amounts of data generated.
He likened the system to “India’s own Iron Dome or Golden Dome,” referring to Israel’s sophisticated missile defense system, but on a scale appropriate for a country as vast as India. He stressed that a project of this magnitude will require a “whole-of-nation approach” to be achieved at an “affordable cost.”
Recent Successes and Lessons from Operation Sindoor
The CDS’s remarks follow a significant successful test on August 23 of a new integrated air defense weapon system (IADWS) off the coast of Odisha. The IADWS, which is a component of the larger Sudarshan Chakra project, successfully shot down three targets at different altitudes and ranges using a combination of quick reaction surface-to-air missiles (QRSAM), very short-range air defense systems (VSHORADS), and a laser-based directed energy weapon.
General Chauhan also referenced Operation Sindoor, the military action against Pakistan in May, calling it a modern conflict that provided valuable lessons. He noted that a locally developed air defense control and reporting system called Akashteer was a key factor in the operation, successfully detecting and neutralizing Pakistani missiles and drones and demonstrating the Indian military’s ability to integrate technology effectively.