New Delhi, Aug 15: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday announced India’s plan to develop an indigenous air-defence system, named “Sudarshan Chakra,” aimed at shielding the nation’s critical military and civilian installations from enemy threats. Speaking from the Red Fort during his Independence Day address, Modi said the system would provide India with the capability to deliver a rapid and decisive response in the event of aggression.
“Mission Sudarshan Chakra will be a significant step towards neutralising enemy threats and strengthening our offensive capabilities,” Modi noted, drawing a parallel between the defence initiative and the mythological weapon of Lord Krishna. “Our rich cultural and mythological heritage continues to inspire modern defence innovations.”
Although the Prime Minister did not detail the specifications of the air-defence system, defence analysts suggested it may resemble Israel’s Iron Dome, a proven all-weather missile shield. The announcement comes against the backdrop of heightened security concerns, with Pakistan Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir reportedly hinting at the potential targeting of Indian assets, including Reliance Industries’ Jamnagar refinery in Gujarat, during any future confrontation.
In addition to the new defence system, Modi stressed the need to reduce India’s dependence on foreign technologies, particularly in aerospace. He urged Indian innovators and youth to develop jet engines domestically, ensuring the country’s future fighter aircraft are powered by home-grown technology.
“The development of indigenous jet engines is critical to our self-reliance and strategic autonomy,” Modi said, highlighting delays in collaboration with US defence major GE Aerospace. The proposed partnership between Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and GE Aerospace to produce engines for India’s next-generation combat aircraft has faced setbacks, including missed deadlines that have delayed the delivery of Tejas fighter jets to the Indian Air Force.
India’s efforts to produce domestic engines date back over three decades. The Kaveri engine project, approved in 1989 by the Cabinet Committee on Security for the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) programme, has so far consumed Rs 2,035 crore but remains incomplete. Modi emphasized that accelerating indigenous engine development would ensure that future defence capabilities remain fully self-reliant.
The Prime Minister also lauded India’s recent military operations as evidence of the country’s growing self-sufficiency in defence. Citing Operation Sindoor, launched after the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack to strike infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, he said, “Our Made-in-India weapons and capabilities enabled us to act decisively, proving that national security cannot rely on foreign dependence.”
Modi’s announcements underscore a broader vision of strategic autonomy, signaling that India aims to bolster both defensive and offensive military capacities while fostering domestic innovation in high-tech defence sectors.
