Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s announcement of the Sudarshan Chakra Mission on August 15, 2025, during his Independence Day address from the Red Fort, underscores India’s push for a comprehensive national security shield by 2035, inspired by Lord Krishna’s legendary weapon and building on the success of Operation Sindoor in intercepting Pakistani missiles and drones. This indigenous initiative aims to integrate multi-layered air defense systems, surveillance, cybersecurity, and rapid-response mechanisms to protect critical assets, strategic sites, civilian areas, and places of faith from aerial threats including long-range missiles, aircraft, and unmanned vehicles. Central to the mission is Project Kusha, a DRDO-led extended-range air defense program announced in June 2025, which develops three variants of interceptor missiles capable of engaging threats at ranges up to 350 kilometers, with capabilities surpassing Russia’s S-400 and rivaling the S-500, including defenses against stealth aircraft, ballistic missiles, and hypersonic threats. The project, set for phased induction by 2030, emphasizes self-reliance through collaboration with defense organizations and the private sector, while addressing global challenges and boosting defense budgets for enhanced military readiness and strategic autonomy.