India's Sudarshan Chakra: A New Iron Dome for National Security

Mhow (MP), Aug 26 (PTI) — On Tuesday, Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan outlined the ambitious 'Sudarshan Chakra' air defence system, which is set to include a comprehensive infrastructure featuring various tri-services military assets. These include missiles and surveillance systems designed to form a formidable strategic shield. Gen Chauhan emphasized that achieving this would require a “whole of the nation” approach.

Drawing a parallel to Israel's acclaimed Iron Dome, Gen Chauhan suggested that the Sudarshan Chakra will function similarly as an all-weather air defence apparatus capable of providing an effective missile shield. The initiative was announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on August 15, as part of a mission to develop an indigenous defence system to safeguard India's critical military and civilian infrastructure from threats, particularly those stemming from Pakistan and China.

During his inaugural remarks on this pivotal project at a conference, Gen Chauhan highlighted the necessity for multi-domain Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) integration. This would encompass ground, air, maritime, undersea, and space sensor networks. He remarked that integrating these diverse systems for the Sudarshan Chakra would demand significant effort from all three armed services.

"A colossal amount of integration will be required, and multiple fields will need to be networked to provide a very true picture," stated Gen Chauhan. He also indicated that the project would leverage advancements in artificial intelligence, advanced computation, data analytics, deep data analysis, and quantum technology.

The program's announcement trails closely behind a statement from Pakistan Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir, who reportedly hinted at targeting Indian assets along the border, including the Reliance Industries Ltd's Jamnagar refinery in Gujarat, should future conflicts arise between the two nations. The Sudarshan Chakra project is slated for completion by 2035.

In another context, at the Ran Samwad conference at the Army War College, Gen Chauhan reiterated the importance of enhanced tri-services integration. The two-day conclave encourages active strategic dialogue among serving military personnel and will culminate with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh's plenary address.

The conference will also see the introduction of joint doctrines alongside the release of the technology perspective and capability roadmap. This unprecedented event features thematic sessions led by serving officers, who will be sharing real-time operational insights and experiences from modern battlefields.

Organized by Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff and the Centre for Joint Warfare Studies, with the collaboration of the Army Training Command, the initiative is under the comprehensive guidance of the Chief of Defence Staff.

(Only the headline of this report may have been reworked by Editorji; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)