**Executive Summary**
On June 12, 2026, Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh inaugurated the Advanced Weapon System Complex at DRDO’s Defence Research & Development Laboratory (DRDL) in Hyderabad. The event highlighted the success of indigenous systems in "Operation Sindoor" and detailed the progress of "Mission Sudarshan Chakra," a forthcoming three-layered missile defence system. The Minister emphasized the urgent need for DRDO and industry partners to accelerate production timelines and achieve self-reliance in futuristic technologies to safeguard national security.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Operational Success and Indigenous Capability**
* Indigenous missile systems, including Akash and BrahMos, demonstrated exceptional performance during Operation Sindoor, proving India's global competitiveness.
* Air defence systems successfully thwarted aerial threats during recent border operations, underscoring the importance of strategic autonomy.
**Mission Sudarshan Chakra**
* Announced by the Prime Minister in 2025, this initiative will establish a multi-level, three-layered missile defence system.
* The system is designed to protect military installations, critical infrastructure, and civil establishments while ensuring minimal inconvenience to citizens.
**Strategic Defense Objectives**
* National security will focus on "resilience" (the capacity to absorb and recover from shocks) and "deterrence" (the ability to discourage aggression through the threat of a befitting reply).
* Priority areas for R&D include hypersonic weapons, autonomous platforms, artificial intelligence, electronic warfare, and advanced sensor technologies.
**Integration of R&D and Mass Production**
* The Minister called for an integrated ecosystem involving DRDO, the Armed Forces, and industry to transition technologies rapidly from development to large-scale production.
* DRDO is urged to simplify manufacturing processes, increase indigenous content, and reduce development-to-production timelines.
**Collaborative Ecosystem**
* The "Make-in-India" and "Aatmanirbhar Bharat" visions are being realized through enhanced collaboration between DRDO, Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs), private industry, start-ups, MSMEs, and academia.
**Impact Analysis**
**DRDO (Defence Research & Development Organisation)**
**Impact**
Tasked with the dual responsibility of addressing present-day challenges while anticipating futuristic technological needs.
**Action Required**
Incorporate production planning as an integral part of the development process to ensure systems can be rapidly mass-produced.
**Private Industry, Start-ups, and MSMEs**
**Impact**
Increased involvement in the national defence ecosystem through a collaborative model that moves from innovation to operational capability.
**Action Required**
Align manufacturing capabilities with DRDO requirements to support large-scale production and the "Make-in-India" initiative.
**Defence Forces (The Services)**
**Impact**
The Services will benefit from the timely induction of state-of-the-art, indigenous systems designed for modern warfare.
**Action Required**
Function as part of an integrated ecosystem with DRDO and industry to facilitate the rapid transition and adoption of new technologies.
Key Entities Referenced
Mission Sudarshan Chakra: A planned three-layered, multi-level missile defence system designed to protect India's military installations, critical infrastructure, and civil establishments.
Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO): The primary agency responsible for the research, development, and technological advancement of indigenous missile systems and strategic weapon complexes in India.
Operation Sindoor: A military operation cited as the validation for the performance and strength of India's indigenous missile systems and defence R&D ecosystem.
Shri Rajnath Singh: The Union Raksha Mantri (Minister of Defence) who inaugurated the Advanced Weapon System Complex and outlined the strategic direction for national security.
Aatmanirbhar Bharat: The national policy initiative aimed at achieving self-reliance and strategic autonomy in the field of defence technologies and manufacturing.
Ministry of Defence
Raksha Mantri inaugurates an Advanced
Weapon System Complex at DRDL, Hyderabad
Exceptional performance of indigenous missile systems
during Op Sindoor is testimony to the growing strength of our
defence R&D ecosystem: Shri Rajnath Singh
“‘Mission Sudarshan Chakra' will be a multi-level missile
defence system of modern India”
“Resilience & deterrence key to safeguarding national
security interests”
“DRDO must continue to address present-day challenges
while working on futuristic tech to provide India a strategic
advantage”
प्रव तथ: 12 JUN 2026 8:14PM by PIB Delhi
Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh inaugurated an Advanced Weapon System Complex at DRDO’s
Defence Research & Development Laboratory (DRDL), Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Missile Complex during his
visit to Hyderabad in Telangana on June 12, 2026. In his address, Raksha Mantri commended the Missile
Systems & Strategic Systems Cluster of DRDO for its pivotal contributions to India's technological
excellence, strategic autonomy, and national security. He asserted that the exceptional performance of
indigenous missile systems during Operation Sindoor is testimony to the growing strength of India’s
defence R&D ecosystem.“The systems developed by DRDO, such as Akash and BrahMos, proved that India possesses the
capability to compete in the global defence technology ecosystem. Strength is essential for peace, and self-
reliance is the most reliable foundation for that strength. It is a fact proven by DRDO,” said Shri Rajnath
Singh.
Highlighting the pivotal role played by air defence during Operation Sindoor, Raksha Mantri said “When
aerial threats loomed over borders, our air defence system completely thwarted the enemy's intentions”.
He added that the vital role of air defence can be witnessed in the conflict zones of the Middle East,
voicing Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi-led Government's commitment to create a multi-level missile
defence system through ‘Mission Sudarshan Chakra’.
“‘Mission Sudarshan Chakra', announced by PM Modi during his 2025 Independence Day address, is set
to become a 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 & key
establishments. The system will possess the capability to deliver a decisive punch whenever needed. Its
three-layered protection will ensure minimal inconvenience to citizens and prioritise their safety. It is a
system designed to provide a robust protective shield for all assets of vital importance,” said Shri Rajnath
Singh.
Raksha Mantri highlighted the importance of possessing ‘resilience’ and ‘deterrence’ to safeguard
national security interests in light of the rapidly evolving nature of warfare, and global uncertainties.
“Precision-strike capabilities, Integrated air defence systems, hypersonic weapons, autonomous platforms,
artificial intelligence, electronic warfare, and advanced sensor technologies are redefining the nature of
modern warfare. The international order is undergoing a period of tension and transformation; where old
assumptions are crumbling, and new alliances & challenges are taking shape. In such an environment,
there is a need to possess ‘resilience’ - the capacity to absorb any shock and bounce back; and ‘deterrence’
- the ability to instill fear in the mind of the aggressor that a befitting reply would be given if a hostile eye
is cast,” he said.Acknowledging DRDO’s efforts in building ‘resilience’ and ‘deterrence’ capabilities of the nation,
Shri Rajnath Singh stated that the organisation is instilling confidence in the nation that it will neither bow
down to instability nor allow any shortcomings in its preparedness. “Today’s inauguration is a symbol of
our resolve to become alert, capable, and self-reliant in tackling every challenge,” he said.
Raksha Mantri praised DRDO for its persistent efforts towards addressing present-day challenges
while working on futuristic technologies that provide India with a strategic advantage. “DRDO’s
responsibility is not limited to merely adapting to technological changes, but also anticipating future
needs. It has accepted this challenge with confidence. In recent years, it has achieved numerous milestones
in the field of indigenous missile technologies. Advanced missile systems have been successfully tested,
and continuous progress is being made in strategic and tactical weapon programmes. These achievements
are not just technological milestones; they also demonstrate India's growing self-reliance, self-confidence,
and strategic capabilities,” he said.
Shri Rajnath Singh stressed the need of equipping the defence forces with state-of-the-art systems
in sufficient quantity and at the right time to tackle future challenges. Success in war is not ensured by
technological superiority alone; large-scale production capability is equally crucial, he said, calling upon
DRDO, the Services, and the industry to function as an integrated ecosystem to rapidly transition
technologies from development to large-scale production and ensure timely induction.
Urging DRDO to consider production as an integral part of the development process, Raksha
Mantri underscored the importance of reducing development-to-production timelines, simplifying
manufacturing processes, increasing indigenous content and developing systems that can be rapidly mass-
produced for the defence forces when the need arises.
Shri Rajnath Singh underlined that the Government has taken a number of measures to promote
R&D over the last 12 years with the objective of realising the vision of ‘Make-in-India’ and
‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ in the field of defence technologies. He appreciated DRDO's contribution to this
endeavour, highlighting the transformation of the defence ecosystem due to enhanced collaboration among
DRDO laboratories, Defence Public Sector Undertakings, private industry, start-ups, MSMEs, and
academia. “This collaborative model will help India accelerate its journey from innovation to production,
and from production to operational capability,” he hoped. He expressed confidence that DRDO will
continue to strengthen national capabilities, reduce technological dependence, and enhance the operational
effectiveness of the Defence Forces.
Raksha Mantri also visited a technical exhibition showcasing cutting-edge defence technologies, advanced
weapon systems, and indigenous missile platforms developed by DRDO. Director General (Missile &
Strategic Systems) Shri U Raja Babu, Director, DRDL Dr Ankathi Raju and other senior DRDO officials
were present on the occasion.***
VK/Savvy
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