India is preparing to take a decisive leap in modern warfare with the conceptualisation of Sudarshan Chakra, an ambitious multi-layered air defence system that senior military leaders are calling the “mother of all air defence systems.” Designed to integrate counter-drone, counter-UAV, counter-missile, and counter-hypersonic capabilities, the system represents both a technological and strategic turning point in India’s defence posture.
At a conference titled “Counter UAVs & Air Defence Systems: Future of Modern Warfare” held in the capital on Tuesday, Chief of Integrated Defence Staff (CISC) Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit underscored the need for India to stay ahead of evolving threats. His message was clear: wars of the future will be decided not by sheer volume of weaponry, but by the ability to anticipate adversary moves, outthink them technologically, and field adaptive systems that combine surprise with resilience.
According to Air Marshal Dixit, Sudarshan Chakra is currently in the ideation phase but is envisioned as an all-encompassing shield, a layered system with the flexibility to neutralise everything from low-cost quadcopters to state-of-the-art hypersonic glide vehicles.
“Counter-drones at the lowest layer, counter-hypersonic defences at the top, and multiple systems in between—this is not a piecemeal approach. This will be India’s integrated mission to secure its skies,” Dixit declared.
The Chief of Defence Staff, General Anil Chauhan, had earlier characterised the system as both a “shield and a sword.” By drawing comparisons with Israel’s Iron Dome—famous for intercepting rockets with remarkable efficiency—he hinted that India is planning something even broader: a hybrid shield capable not only of defence but also offensive response when required.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi formally announced the 10-year mission during his Independence Day address, projecting Sudarshan Chakra as one of the cornerstones of India’s march toward self-reliance in defence.
The rationale for such a vast project lies in the changing character of war. In conflicts across the globe, drones have emerged as one of the most disruptive technologies. The Azerbaijan-Armenia war provided the first shock: inexpensive Turkish-made Bayraktar TB2 drones devastated Armenia’s Soviet-era tanks and artillery, shifting the balance of the conflict. The Russia-Ukraine war has taken this dynamic further, showing that even relatively low-cost drones can cripple multi-million-dollar assets, from tanks to warships.
“Drones have created what we call an innovation adaptation cycle,” Dixit said. “They are cheap, expendable, and constantly evolving. Every time you think you have figured out a defence, a new variant or tactic emerges.”
India, too, has had to contend with drone threats closer to home. During Operation Sindoor—a largely classified military campaign—India encountered sophisticated drones that leveraged artificial intelligence, visual navigation, and resistance to GPS jamming. Some were able to reach close to their intended targets despite electronic countermeasures.
Yet, according to Dixit, India’s anti-drone and GPS-jamming systems performed admirably, limiting damage to almost zero. “That was a success story,” he noted, “but the same tactics will not work again. The adversary learns too. We must always be two steps ahead.”
Although specifics remain under wraps, military insiders and defence analysts suggest that Sudarshan Chakra could integrate several existing and upcoming technologies into a unified framework:
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Counter-Drone Systems (Low Layer)
These will form the first line of defence, employing a mix of soft-kill methods (jamming, spoofing, directed-energy weapons) and hard-kill methods (kinetic interceptors, small-calibre anti-drone munitions). -
Counter-UAV and Counter-Missile Defences (Middle Layer)
Likely to include advanced surface-to-air missile systems, radar-guided interceptors, and laser weapons designed to neutralise UAVs and cruise missiles before they penetrate deeper airspace. -
Counter-Hypersonic Systems (Upper Layer)
The most futuristic component, aimed at neutralising hypersonic glide vehicles traveling at speeds greater than Mach 5. These may involve directed-energy weapons, satellite-based tracking, and ultra-fast interceptor missiles. -
Artificial Intelligence Integration
AI will be central—both in detecting threats faster and making split-second interception decisions. AI-enabled systems can distinguish between a hobbyist drone and a military UAV swarm, preventing wasted resources. -
Sensor and Surveillance Networks
Multi-band radar, electro-optical sensors, and satellite feeds will provide the backbone of situational awareness, feeding data into a central command-and-control system. -
Economic and Scalable Design
Recognising the cost dynamics of modern war, Dixit stressed: “I cannot go bankrupt while winning a war.” This implies that Sudarshan Chakra must deliver cost-effective defences against cheap threats like drones while scaling up to face advanced ones.
The mention of Operation Sindoor provided rare insight into India’s operational experiences. While details remain classified, sources suggest it involved drone incursions across sensitive border zones. Some drones displayed autonomous features—navigating via AI-based visual mapping rather than GPS alone.
Dixit admitted that India’s current systems successfully neutralised these drones with negligible damage. However, he warned against complacency: “Next time, it will be different. They have learned from us, just as we have learned from them.”
The lesson, he said, is that innovation must remain perpetual. Defence systems cannot be static; they must evolve faster than the threats.
Self-reliance—or Atmanirbharta—is not merely a political slogan in this context but a strategic necessity. Dixit argued that surprise in warfare often comes from unexpected innovations, which are only possible if India reduces dependency on foreign suppliers.
“Like all surprises, it can only be used once,” he said. “If we import solutions, the adversary will anticipate them. If we build at home, we can spring innovations they cannot predict.”
This aligns with the government’s Make in India initiative, but Dixit extended the concept further: “It’s not enough to ‘make’ in India. We must think in India.” By urging academia, think tanks, and the private sector to ideate beyond conventional templates, he sought to foster an indigenous cycle of innovation.
Modern conflicts are not just military contests; they are economic ones. The Russia-Ukraine war has underscored how the cost asymmetry between drones and air defence systems can tilt the balance. Ukraine has spent a fraction of Russia’s military budget yet managed to inflict disproportionate damage.
“Every interceptor missile costs far more than the drone it destroys,” Dixit explained. “This cannot continue. We must devise layered solutions where the cost of interception is proportional to the threat.”
This logic may push India to accelerate investment in directed-energy weapons, electronic warfare, and AI-powered jamming—all cheaper per shot than missiles.
The chess analogy was a recurring theme in Dixit’s address. “This is like a game of chess. You cannot just react; you must anticipate, stay two steps ahead,” he said.
He emphasised the role of Indian industry and academia in building this foresight. Defence companies must not wait for government contracts but proactively develop prototypes. Universities should collaborate with the armed forces to pioneer AI algorithms, swarming counter-tactics, and cost-effective energy weapons.
This collaborative ecosystem could ensure that Sudarshan Chakra is not just a defence project but a national mission.
Israel’s Iron Dome has achieved legendary status for intercepting rockets with a success rate of over 90%. Yet it has its critics: the cost of interception remains high, and it is less effective against swarm attacks or hypersonic threats.
India, with its diverse threat spectrum—from Pakistan’s tactical drones to China’s hypersonic arsenal—needs more than an Iron Dome equivalent. Sudarshan Chakra aims to be that next-generation solution: a layered shield that not only intercepts but adapts.
Defence analysts suggest India could integrate lessons from multiple global systems—Iron Dome, Russia’s S-400, and America’s THAAD—while adding indigenous innovations like AI-enabled swarm neutralisation.
The rise of drones has democratised warfare. Non-state actors like the Houthis in Yemen have used cheap drones to strike high-value oil installations in Saudi Arabia, causing billions in economic damage. Militias in Africa and insurgents in the Middle East have weaponised commercial drones with minimal training.
This means India’s defence is not just about preparing for state-to-state conflict but also asymmetric warfare. Border infiltration, sabotage, and terrorist attacks using drones are increasingly plausible. Sudarshan Chakra must therefore protect not only military bases but also civilian infrastructure—airports, refineries, power plants.
The announcement of Sudarshan Chakra reflects a rare alignment of political will, military vision, and industrial opportunity. With a decade-long timeline, the project will require sustained funding, cross-agency coordination, and continuous technological upgrades.
Yet India has already signalled intent by committing resources to indigenous missile programmes, directed-energy weapon prototypes, and AI-based surveillance systems. The key challenge will be integrating these into a seamless, scalable architecture.
While the vision is grand, challenges loom large:
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Technological Complexity: Building counter-hypersonic systems is a frontier even advanced militaries are struggling with.
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Cost Discipline: Developing layered defences without spiralling budgets requires disciplined project management.
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Integration: Ensuring that multiple systems—radar, missiles, lasers, AI tools—work seamlessly will be daunting.
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International Competition: Other nations are racing toward similar solutions; India must innovate fast to avoid lagging.
But opportunities are equally significant. If successful, Sudarshan Chakra could place India among the world’s leaders in air defence technology, open avenues for defence exports, and provide deterrence against both conventional and asymmetric threats.
The name Sudarshan Chakra carries deep cultural resonance. In Hindu mythology, it was the divine discus weapon of Lord Vishnu—unerring, unstoppable, and a symbol of protection. By invoking this imagery, India is projecting both confidence and intent: to create a system that shields the nation while striking down threats with precision.Wars are not fought on yesterday’s terms. “Our adversaries have learned from Operation Sindoor. They will adapt. So must we. The next time, the surprise must be ours.”
