Mission Sudarshan Chakra – India’s Nationwide Air Defence Shield

Context

India has launched Mission Sudarshan Chakra to develop a nationwide, AI-driven air defence shield integrating radars, satellites, and laser weapons to counter emerging aerial threats.

About Mission Sudarshan Chakra

• Mission Sudarshan Chakra is a new national initiative aimed at building a comprehensive, integrated air defence shield across India.
• The system will integrate 6,000–7,000 radars, 52 surveillance satellites (by 2030), and Directed Energy Weapons (DEWs) into one real-time, networked defence ecosystem.
• Objective: To establish a multilayered, AI-driven, space-linked air defence network capable of:
  • Monitoring, detecting, and tracking enemy threats beyond visual range.
  • Identifying and neutralising hostile aircraft, drones, and missiles.
  • Providing nationwide coverage beyond military bases, extending to key population centres and strategic installations.

Key Components of the Mission

• Multi-Layered Defence Architecture: The shield will combine:
  • Over-the-Horizon (OTH) Radars: Capable of tracking targets far beyond the line of sight, deep into enemy territory.
  • Short-, Medium-, and Long-Range Missile Systems: For interception at multiple distances.
  • Anti-Drone Systems and Air Defence Guns: For close-range and swarm threats.
  • Directed Energy Weapons (DEWs): High-powered laser-based systems for neutralising aerial targets instantly.
• Space-Based Surveillance Integration: Under Phase 3 of the Space-Based Surveillance (SBS) Programme, 52 new surveillance satellites are to be deployed by 2030. These satellites will:

• Continuously scan and track enemy movements from space.
• Feed data into Sudarshan Chakra’s central AI-driven command network.
• Cue missile or DEW systems for interception.

• Massive Radar Network: Between 6,000 and 7,000 radars will be deployed across the country. Includes multiple types:

• OTH radars for long-range detection.
• Ground-based and mobile radars for tactical tracking.
• Coastal and high-altitude radars for strategic depth.
• These will be interlinked through a centralised command-and-control system to share data in real time.

• Integration with Advanced Computing and AI: The mission will rely heavily on:

• Artificial Intelligence (AI) for real-time threat assessment.
• Big Data and Advanced Analytics for processing massive volumes of sensor data.
• Quantum Computing and Large Language Models (LLMs) for predictive threat modelling and automated response systems.

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