Our Special Correspondent
Hyderabad: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday unveiled an ambitious vision for India’s future security architecture, stating that the “Mission Sudarshan Chakra”, announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his 2025 Independence Day address, is set to evolve into a comprehensive multi-level missile defence system capable of safeguarding the nation against emerging aerial and missile threats.
Addressing a gathering after inaugurating key facilities of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) in Hyderabad, Singh said the proposed missile defence shield would serve as a robust protective umbrella for military installations, strategic assets, critical infrastructure, and civilian establishments across the country.
“Mission Sudarshan Chakra will become the multi-level missile defence system of modern India. It will not only protect military installations and critical infrastructure, but also ensure the safety of civil infrastructure and key establishments. The system will possess the capability to deliver a decisive punch whenever needed. Its three-layered protection mechanism will ensure minimal inconvenience to citizens while prioritising their safety,” the Defence Minister said.
Drawing attention to the changing character of modern warfare, Singh highlighted the crucial role played by India’s air defence network during Operation Sindoor, stating that the country’s defence systems successfully thwarted enemy intentions when aerial threats emerged along the borders.
“When aerial threats loomed over our borders, our air defence system completely foiled the enemy’s plans. The significance of air defence capabilities can also be witnessed in the ongoing conflicts across the Middle East. These developments underline the necessity of creating a comprehensive and resilient missile defence architecture for India,” he observed.
The Defence Minister stressed that the rapidly evolving global security environment demands nations to possess both resilience and deterrence to effectively protect their national interests.
“The international order is passing through a phase of uncertainty and transformation. Traditional assumptions are collapsing while new alliances and challenges are emerging. In such an environment, nations need resilience—the capacity to absorb shocks and recover quickly—and deterrence—the ability to convince potential aggressors that any hostile action will invite a strong and befitting response,” he said.
Singh noted that technological advancements such as precision-strike systems, integrated air defence networks, hypersonic weapons, autonomous platforms, artificial intelligence, electronic warfare capabilities, and advanced sensor technologies are fundamentally reshaping the nature of warfare.
Praising DRDO for strengthening India’s defence preparedness, the Defence Minister said the organisation has played a pivotal role in building indigenous capabilities and enhancing the country’s strategic autonomy.
“DRDO is instilling confidence in the nation that India will neither bow before instability nor allow any shortcomings in its preparedness. Today’s inauguration symbolises our collective resolve to remain vigilant, capable, and self-reliant in confronting every challenge,” he said.
The Minister commended DRDO’s sustained efforts in developing both present-day and futuristic defence technologies, particularly in the field of indigenous missile systems. He noted that the organisation has achieved significant milestones through the successful testing of advanced missile platforms and continuous progress in both strategic and tactical weapon programmes.
“These achievements are not merely technological milestones. They reflect India’s growing self-reliance, rising confidence, and expanding strategic capabilities. DRDO’s responsibility extends beyond adapting to technological changes; it must also anticipate future requirements, and it has embraced this responsibility with confidence,” Singh remarked.
Emphasising the importance of timely induction of advanced weapon systems, the Defence Minister said that technological superiority alone does not guarantee success in modern warfare. Large-scale production capability, he noted, is equally important.
He called upon DRDO, the armed forces, public sector undertakings, private industry, start-ups, micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), and academia to work as an integrated ecosystem to ensure that technologies move swiftly from the laboratory to the production line and eventually into operational deployment.
Singh urged DRDO to treat production planning as an integral part of the research and development process, stressing the need to shorten development-to-production timelines, simplify manufacturing processes, increase indigenous content, and create systems capable of rapid mass production whenever national security demands arise.
Highlighting the government’s commitment to defence self-reliance, he said several policy measures have been introduced over the past 12 years to strengthen research and development and realise the vision of ‘Make in India’ and ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ in defence manufacturing.
“The defence ecosystem has undergone a remarkable transformation due to enhanced collaboration among DRDO laboratories, defence public sector undertakings, private industry, start-ups, MSMEs and academic institutions. This collaborative model will help India accelerate its journey from innovation to production and from production to operational capability,” he said.
Expressing confidence in DRDO’s future contributions, Singh said the organisation would continue strengthening India’s technological capabilities, reducing external dependence, and enhancing the operational effectiveness of the armed forces.
Earlier, the Defence Minister visited a technical exhibition showcasing cutting-edge defence technologies, advanced weapon systems, and indigenous missile platforms developed by DRDO. Senior DRDO officials, including Director General (Missile & Strategic Systems) U. Raja Babu, DRDL Director Dr Ankathi Raju, and other scientists and officials, were present on the occasion.
