Satellites, long-range radars to power next-gen airspace shield

Mission Sudarshan Chakra 

Concept & Purpose

• Mentioned by PM Modi in Independence Day speech (2025).

• A comprehensive air and missile defence shield for India.

• Aims at providing complete security for strategic and civilian areas, such as hospitals and railway stations

• Aims to neutralise all aerial threats:

  • Kamikaze drones

  • Ballistic missiles (incl. MIRVs)

  • Cruise missiles

  • Armed drones, aircraft

Background

• Triggered after Pakistan’s Operation Sindoor (≈1000 projectiles fired at India).

• Some missiles intercepted, others deflected by jamming enemy C2 networks.

• Inspiration from Israel’s Iron Dome (neutralised 498/500 Iranian missiles in 2025).

• Need arises due to Pakistan’s Ababeel MRBM (2200 km, MIRV warheads).

Structure

• Integrates:

  • Satellites (surveillance inputs)

  • Long-range radars

  • Airborne early warning systems (AEW&C)

  • UAVs

  • Interceptor missiles (short, medium, long range)

• Centralised control centres:

  • Receive multi-source inputs

  • Decide whether to deflect or intercept incoming threats.

Relation with Project Kusha

• Project Kusha (DRDO) → Extended-range interceptors for IAF & Navy (by 2030).

• Sudarshan Chakra → Bigger, overarching security architecture (by 2035).

Operational Aspects

• Defensive Role: Protect India’s large landmass & civilian population.

• Offensive Role: Precision strike capability with missiles like:

  • Pralay (short-range ballistic)

  • Nirbhay (cruise missile)

  • Long-range naval missiles for ship/land targets.

• Strategy: Retaliation with massive capability bypassing enemy defences.

Challenges

• Need for:

  • Multiple interceptors of varying range/warhead weights.

  • Study of Chinese missile systems (Pakistan’s arsenal largely Chinese/Turkish).

Mission Sudarshan Chakra = India’s integrated air and missile defence shield, combining satellites, radars, UAVs, AEW&C, and interceptors, with both defensive and offensive roles. It is India’s answer to Pakistan’s and China’s missile threats, aiming for full coverage by 2035.

India currently has three S-400 missile systems developed by Russia

Project Kusha (ERADS / XRSAM / PGLRSAM)

Introduction

• Project Kusha, officially called the Extended Range Air Defence System (ERADS), is a long-range surface-to-air missile (LRSAM) programme under DRDO.

• It is being designed for both the Indian Air Force (lead agency) and the Indian Navy.

• Objective: To fill the gap between existing missile systems — MR-SAM (80 km) and S-400 Triumf (400 km) — providing an indigenous area-defence system.

• The main aim of the project is to develop a long-range surface-to-air missile (LR-SAM) system, often referred to as “Desi S-400”.

• The mobile LR-SAM will feature long-range surveillance and fire control radars.

Development Timeline

• Cleared for development: By Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) in May 2022.

• Acceptance of Necessity (AoN): Granted by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) in September 2023.

• Procurement plan: 5 squadrons for the IAF at a cost of ₹21,700 crore (~US$2.6 billion).

• Phased induction: Expected 2028–2030.

System Features

• Interceptor Variants: Three types of missiles for layered defence (short, medium, and long range).

• Range: To bridge the gap between 80 km (MR-SAM) and 400 km (S-400). Likely effective range: 150–350 km.

• Mobility: Fully mobile, can be deployed across varied terrains.

• Target capability: Designed to intercept and destroy:

  • Fighter jets

  • Bombers

  • Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs)

  • Cruise missiles

  • Potentially, some ballistic missile threats

Strategic Role

• Supplements India’s multi-layered air defence architecture, alongside:

  • Barak-8 (MR-SAM) – Indo-Israeli

  • S-400 Triumf – Russian

  • Indian Ballistic Missile Defence (BMD) system – DRDO

• Enhances area-defence capability and self-reliance (Atmanirbhar Bharat) in advanced defence technology.

Significance

• Bridges operational gap between MR-SAM and S-400.

• Reduces dependence on foreign suppliers (Israel, Russia).

• Strengthens India’s Air Defence Command (ADC) under planning.

• Boosts deterrence against adversaries with strong air and missile assets (China, Pakistan).

Challenges Ahead

• Technological complexity: Multi-stage propulsion, radar integration, seeker tech.

• Timely delivery: Induction expected by 2030, but delays possible.

• Integration: With IAF’s Integrated Air Command and Control System (IACCS).

Conclusion

Project Kusha represents India’s push for a self-reliant, multi-layered air defence shield. By 2030, its induction will complete India’s indigenous capability to counter threats from fighters, UAVs, and cruise/ballistic missiles—bridging gaps left by existing imported systems.