A month after Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced Mission Sudarshan Chakra, to establish an Iron Dome air-defence system, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday confirmed that a committee has been formed to examine the project and prepare a “realistic action plan”.
The announcement was made by the defence minister during the ongoing Combined Commanders’ Conference 2025 in Kolkata, West Bengal.
Calling upon the commanders to be proactive in their approach and strive to build the Sudarshan Chakra, Singh said the committee has been formed to examine the project and prepare a “realistic action plan”.
He suggested devising a medium-term plan for the next five years and a long-term plan for the next ten years to bring the vision to fruition.
On 15 August, Prime Minister Modi unveiled the ambitious national security initiative ‘Mission Sudarshan Chakra,’ aimed at safeguarding India’s critical infrastructure over the next decade by advancing indigenous technological development.
Recently, Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan alluded to India’s forthcoming air defence system, calling it the ‘Golden Dome’, likely drawing a parallel with Israel’s Iron Dome. He described it as an indigenous solution that would serve as both ‘a shield and a sword,’ with the goal of making it operational within the next ten years.
According to the reports, the proposed air defence system is intended to build a resilient framework and operational capabilities for detecting, tracking, and intercepting enemy missiles, drones, and aircraft using both conventional and directed-energy weapons. According to defence officials, the system is expected to incorporate assets like satellites and radar networks where many modern missiles ascend before descending toward their targets.
The initiative will also leverage technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), advanced computing, data analytics, and quantum technology to enhance decision-making and threat analysis.
Additionally, the armed forces’ plan to create an integrated network spanning land, air, sea, undersea, and space domains. This interconnected system will allow commanders to access a unified operational picture in real time.
Urging the armed forces to go beyond the traditional concepts of war, the defence minister has asked them to remain alert and ready to deal with invisible challenges emanating from unconventional threats such as information, ideological, ecological and biological warfare.
The defence minister emphasised the need for constant assessment of the changes taking place across the globe, and its impact on the security system of the country, in view of the turbulent global order, regional instability and the emerging security landscape.
Singh asserted that the nature of warfare is continuously evolving, and the recent global conflicts have underlined the relevance of a “technology-friendly” military. “Wars of today are so sudden and unpredictable that it is extremely difficult to foretell its duration. It can be two months, a year, or even five years. We need to be prepared. We need to ensure that our surge capacity remains sufficient,” he added.
The defence minister also underscored the importance of jointness and synergy among the Armed Forces as well as with other agencies, in line with the whole of nation approach, terming it as “essential” to deal with future challenges.
“Operation Sindoor has demonstrated that Strength, Strategy and Self-reliance are the three pillars that will give India the power it needs in the 21st century. Today, we have the capability to face any challenge with the help of indigenous platforms and systems coupled with the indomitable courage of our soldiers. This is the real strength of Aatmanirbhar Bharat,” said Singh.