New Delhi, January 1:
Celebrating the 68th Foundation Day of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh today lauded the agency for its pivotal role in national security. Speaking from the DRDO Headquarters, the Defence Minister revealed that indigenous weapon systems were the “decisive factor” in the success of Operation Sindoor, the high-stakes military mission conducted in May 2025.
The ‘Operation Sindoor’ Testament
In a significant acknowledgment of indigenous tech, the Raksha Mantri stated that DRDO-developed equipment worked “seamlessly” during the 2025 operation, which targeted terror infrastructure.
“The weapon systems developed by DRDO served as a testament to the professionalism of the organisation. Their performance on the battlefield boosted the morale of our soldiers and ensured the safeguarding of national interests,” Shri Rajnath Singh said.
Mission Sudarshan Chakra: India’s Future Air Shield
Looking ahead, the Minister exuded confidence that DRDO would soon realise the Sudarshan Chakra initiative. First announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his August 15, 2025 Independence Day address, the project aims to create a multi-layered, AI-enabled air defence umbrella for India.
Key Goals of Sudarshan Chakra:
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Total Aerial Protection: Equipping vital national installations with advanced interception systems.
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Next-Decade Roadmap: Ensuring complete aerial sovereignty over the next ten years.
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Indigenous Shield: A networked architecture of radars, interceptors, and directed-energy weapons to counter drones, missiles, and hypersonic threats.
The Raksha Mantri praised the DRDO for evolving into a “trust builder” for the nation. He highlighted the growing synergy between the organisation and India’s private sector, startups, and academia.
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Collaborative Ecosystem: Transitioning from standalone research to a synergetic defence ecosystem involving MSMEs and private industry.
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Streamlined Processes: Visible improvements in procurement, project management, and technology transfer.
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Focus on Innovation: An urge to prioritize “deep tech” and “next-generation technologies” to stay ahead of rapidly evolving warfare domains.
During the visit, DRDO Chairman Dr. Samir V. Kamat briefed the Minister on the major R&D targets for 2026. The roadmap includes accelerated development of autonomous systems, cyber defence capabilities, and the continued modernization of existing missile batteries like the Akash and MRSAM.
“Technology, innovation, and new warfare domains are rapidly advancing. We must never assume the learning process has ended,” the Minister noted, calling for constant capability assessment to ensure the nation remains “future-ready.”
