India, Aug. 15 -- Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday announced the creation of a formidable military capability to defend India's military and civilian installations against aerial attacks and set a 10-year deadline for developing an indigenous air defence shield integrated with offensive weapons under Mission Sudarshan Chakra.

"The country will launch Mission Sudarshan Chakra. It will be a powerful weapon system that will not only neutralise the enemy's attack but also hit back with overwhelming force," Modi said in his customary Independence Day address that put the spotlight on achieving self-reliance in a raft of sectors ranging from defence to energy and critical minerals to fertilisers.

The fully indigenous capability will be ...