New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the launch of the “Sudarshan Chakra Mission”, a decade-long initiative aimed at strengthening India’s national security. The mission will integrate advanced surveillance, interception, and counter-attack systems to enable rapid neutralisation of threats across air, land, and sea.

Speaking from the Red Fort during his Independence Day address, Modi also emphasized the need to develop a domestic jet engine for India’s fighter aircraft program, stating that advancing the defence manufacturing sector is essential.

Praising the armed forces for the success of Operation Sindoor, he noted that it had inflicted a “severe blow to Pakistan,” with new details of the operation’s impact emerging daily. This year, Modi delivered his longest Independence Day speech, speaking for 103 minutes, surpassing his previous record of 98 minutes set in 2024.

Objectives of the Sudarshan Chakra Mission

Modi explained that the mission aims to create a protective shield for India’s strategic, civilian, and religious sites while developing advanced weaponry. The system is expected to match Israel’s Iron Dome, a multi-layered defence network with over 90% success in intercepting rockets from Hamas and Hezbollah.

“In the next ten years, by 2035, I want to expand, strengthen, and modernise this national security shield. Inspired by Lord Krishna, we have chosen the path of the Sudarshan Chakra. The system will be researched, developed, and manufactured in India, harnessing the talent of our youth. It will not only counter terrorist attacks but also retaliate against the perpetrators,” Modi said.

Emphasizing self-reliance, he added that India aims to establish its own Iron Dome-like system to safeguard critical sites, including civilian areas, under the Mission Sudarshan Chakra. The mission highlights India’s commitment to indigenous innovation and robust defence capabilities.

Issuing a stern warning to Pakistan, Modi declared that “terrorists and those providing them safe haven will be treated alike” and affirmed that the armed forces will have authority to decide on any future action against the neighbouring country.

Referring to the April 22 Pahalgam attack, which killed 26 people, mostly tourists, Modi said India had responded with diplomatic and economic measures, including suspending the Indus Waters Treaty. Operation Sindoor, launched on May 7, targeted terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and ended with a four-day hostilities truce on May 10. Modi highlighted that the armed forces were given freedom to punish those responsible and to determine any future retaliation. DeshGujarat