Overview
- The Defence Research and Development Organisation carried out the maiden flight test of Project Kusha from APJ Abdul Kalam Island, which on Thursday, July 23, 2026, successfully intercepted an electronic target simulating a high‑speed, high‑altitude aerial threat.
- Defence Minister Rajnath Singh publicly confirmed the test and said the system can neutralise fighter jets, cruise missiles, UAVs and large aircraft, framing the result as a step toward cutting import dependence.
- Project Kusha is being built as a three‑tier family of interceptors (M1, M2, M3) with reported engagement bands near 150 km, 250 km and up to 350–400 km and interceptor speeds cited around Mach 5.5.
- DRDO laboratories developed missiles, radars and command‑and‑control elements in collaboration with industry partners, with Bharat Electronics Limited named as the principal radar and integration partner; officials say further developmental trials and IACCS integration are planned before induction.
- The programme was cleared by the Cabinet Committee on Security in May 2022 and received an AoN for five squadrons in September 2023, and it is positioned to complement existing systems such as the S‑400 as part of the wider Mission Sudarshan Chakra air‑defence architecture.