‘Sudarshan Chakra’ to secure airspace: PM

Modi said the indigenous system to protect military and civilian installations against aerial attacks will be operational by 2035

- Rahul Singh

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday announced the creation of a formidable military capability to defend India’s military and civilian installations against aerial attacks and set a 10-year deadline for developing an indigenous air defence shield integrated with offensive weapons under Mission Sudarshan Chakra.

“The country will launch Mission Sudarshan Chakra. It will be a powerful weapon system that will not only neutralise the enemy's attack but also hit back with overwhelming force,” Modi said in his Independence Day address that put the spotlight on achieving self-reliance in a raft of sectors ranging from defence to energy and critical minerals to fertilisers.

The fully indigenous capability will be in place by 2035, he said.

“In the next 10 years, by 2035, I want to expand, strengthen and modernise this national security shield. Drawing inspiration from Lord Shri Krishna, we have chosen the path of Sudarshan Chakra,” Modi said, recounting the role of the weapon, a sort of spinning disc, in Hindu epic Mahabharata.

In his 103-minute address, the PM summarised the salient features of the military capability in the works.