Project Kusha, India’s desi S-400, takes to the skies; maiden test flight successful
The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) conducted the maiden flight test of the Long-Range Surface-to-Air Missile under Project Kusha from a test range off the Odisha coast
The interceptor successfully engaged an electronic target simulating a high-speed, high-altitude aerial threat
Project Kusha envisages three interceptor variants — M1, M2 and M3 — with engagement ranges of 150 km, 250 km and 350–400 km respectively
All major sub-systems, including missiles, radars and command-and-control centres, are being developed by DRDO laboratories in partnership with domestic industry
Project Kusha — India's Long-Range Surface-to-Air Missile (LR-SAM) Programme
Project Kusha is a DRDO programme to develop an indigenous long-range air defence system capable of intercepting fighter aircraft, cruise missiles, unmanned aerial vehicles and stand-off weapons at ranges up to 350–400 km. It is designed to close the capability gap between India's home-grown Medium-Range Surface-to-Air Missile (MR-SAM, effective range roughly 70–80 km) and the Russian-origin S-400 Triumf (range up to 400 km), forming a key layer of India's multi-layered, integrated air defence architecture.
Key Details
- Approved by the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) in May 2022
- Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) for procurement of five Indian Air Force squadrons granted by the Ministry of Defence in September 2023, at an estimated cost of ₹21,700 crore
- Three planned interceptor variants — M1 (150 km), M2 (250 km) and M3 (350–400 km) — allowing layered engagement of threats at different ranges and altitudes
- Being developed indigenously to reduce dependence on imported long-range air defence systems
The maiden test flight is the first developmental trial validating the interceptor's guidance and engagement capability, marking the transition of Project Kusha from design to flight testing ahead of eventual induction.
India's Layered Air Defence Architecture
Modern integrated air defence relies on a tiered network of interceptors covering short, medium and long ranges rather than a single system, so that any single threat is engaged by multiple overlapping layers. India's evolving architecture spans indigenous short-range systems (Akash), medium-range systems (Barak-8/MR-SAM, developed jointly with Israel), and long-range coverage currently provided by the imported S-400 Triumf, which Project Kusha is intended to progressively supplement and eventually substitute with an indigenous option.
Key Details
- Akash: indigenous short-to-medium range surface-to-air missile system, in service with the Army and Air Force
- Barak-8/MR-SAM: jointly developed by DRDO and Israel Aerospace Industries, effective range around 70–80 km
- S-400 Triumf: Russian-origin long-range system, contracted in a 2018 deal worth about $5.43 billion for five squadrons, deployed in phases with deliveries continuing through the 2020s
- Layering reflects the Ministry of Defence's broader push for self-reliance in critical defence technologies (Atmanirbhar Bharat in defence production)
Project Kusha is explicitly positioned to bridge the gap between MR-SAM and the S-400, and over time to reduce reliance on imported long-range interceptors for India's air defence grid.
DRDO and India's Defence R&D Ecosystem
The Defence Research and Development Organisation, established in 1958 under the Ministry of Defence, is India's principal agency for research, design and development of defence technologies across missiles, aeronautics, armaments, electronics and naval systems. It operates through a network of specialised laboratories and collaborates with public and private industry partners for production.
Key Details
- DRDO functions under the Department of Defence Research and Development, Ministry of Defence
- Major missile programmes under DRDO include the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP) legacy systems (Prithvi, Agni, Akash, Trishul, Nag) and newer programmes such as Project Kusha
- Defence acquisition for indigenous systems typically follows Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) by the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), followed by trials, and Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) approval for major capital outlays
- Emphasis on "Buy (Indian-IDDM)" category procurement supports domestically designed, developed and manufactured platforms
Project Kusha is a flagship example of DRDO-led indigenous development of a strategically sensitive, high-value defence platform, tested with domestic industry partners rather than procured off-the-shelf from a foreign supplier.
- Project Kusha interceptor ranges: M1 — 150 km, M2 — 250 km, M3 — 350–400 km
- CCS approval: May 2022; procurement AoN for five IAF squadrons: September 2023, ~₹21,700 crore
- Existing indigenous MR-SAM/Barak-8 range: approximately 70–80 km
- S-400 Triumf range: up to 400 km; 2018 India-Russia deal value: approximately $5.43 billion for five squadrons
- Maiden Project Kusha flight test conducted from a range off the Odisha coast