Key Terms & Concepts — UPSC Mains
Mission Sudarshan Chakra
"India's planned multi-layered, AI-enabled national air-defence shield, with a pre-feasibility report submitted by April 30, 2026 and Phase-1 deployment targeted for 2028-29."
Mission Sudarshan Chakra is an Indian defence initiative unveiled by the Prime Minister from the Red Fort on August 15, 2025 to build an interlocked, multi-layered, AI-enabled national security shield against missile, drone, terror and military threats. As of April 30, 2026 a DRDO-led team had submitted a pre-feasibility report, keeping it prominent in mid-2026 defence news. It envisages three layers: space-based long-range detection, mid-layer missile interception, and inner-layer point defence using lasers and anti-drone systems. It integrates indigenous systems under development such as Project Kusha with inducted assets such as the S-400. The Indian Air Force aims to fully deploy Phase-1 by 2028-29, with the complete shield envisaged by 2035. It is often compared to Israel's Iron Dome and the proposed US Golden Dome concept.
GS3 (defence, indigenisation, security challenges and their management). Prelims: announced August 15, 2025, three-layer AI air-defence shield, Project Kusha link. Mains: indigenous air-defence architecture and self-reliance in defence.
- 1 Unveiled by the PM at the Red Fort on August 15, 2025
- 2 Pre-feasibility report submitted by April 30, 2026
- 3 Three-layer architecture: space detection, missile interception, point defence
- 4 Integrates Project Kusha and the S-400
- 5 AI-enabled, networked, all-indigenous goal
- 6 Inner layer uses lasers and anti-drone systems
- 7 Phase-1 IAF deployment targeted for 2028-29
- 8 Complete shield envisaged by 2035
- 9 Compared to Iron Dome and Golden Dome concepts
Through mid-2026, Mission Sudarshan Chakra featured in defence coverage as DRDO advanced feasibility work toward an indigenous multi-layered air-defence shield.
