Is Mission Sudarshan Chakra India's answer to ballistic missile defense?

While Prime Minister Narendra Modi didn’t dive deep into the specifics of ‘Mission Sudarshan Chakra 2035,’ the context following Pakistan's failed attempt to launch over 1000 missiles at India during Operation Sindoor suggests a clear direction. It seems he’s signaling the development of anti-ballistic missile defense systems and long-range conventional ballistic missiles to counter threats from both regional and global adversaries. In his speech, PM Modi stated, “India is launching Mission Sudarshan Chakra to create a powerful weapon system to thwart any attempts by enemies to attack us… by 2035, all public places will be protected by an expanded nationwide security shield.” As the DRDO continues its work on anti-ballistic missile defense, there’s a pressing need for India to develop conventional ballistic missiles to address threats from land, sea, and air. Currently, the DRDO is working on the Pralay missile, which has a range of 500 km and can carry a warhead weighing between 500 to 1000 kilograms, allowing it to target both land and sea-based threats. Top national security experts believe that PM Modi has hinted at an expansion of the DRDO’s Project Kusha, or the Extended Range Air Defence System. This project involves developing long-range surface-to-air missile systems with three different interceptor variants, expected to be ready between 2028 and 2030. The Kusha Project received the green light from the CCS for development in May 2022, with missile testing set to commence later this year. The urgency for India to establish its own anti-ballistic missile defense is underscored by Pakistan’s launch of short-range Fatah I and Fatah II missiles aimed at the Indian hinterland during Operation Sindoor. Additionally, Israel’s experience serves as a reminder; it relied on its anti-missile defense systems to fend off hundreds of ballistic missiles and armed drones launched by Iran in two separate incidents over the past two years. After India took out nine terrorist camps in Pakistan on May 7, Pakistan retaliated by launching Turkish armed drones and Chinese ballistic missiles until a no-fire pact was established on May 10 at 5:30 PM. The reality is that Pakistan breached this no-fire agreement by continuing to deploy armed drones and shelling with long-range artillery on the night of May 10. In an era where modern warfare hinges on long-range stand-off weapons and ballistic missile defense, PM Modi has made a bold yet essential move towards Mission Sudarshan Chakra. While Pakistan has a limited conventional missile arsenal, India’s other adversaries possess a wide array of conventional ballistic missiles and rockets that could wreak havoc in the Indian heartland if hostilities were to break out.

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