DRDO conducts successful maiden flight-test of ‘Kusha’ long-range surface-to-air missile

Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully conducts the maiden flight test of ‘Kusha’ Long-Range Surface-to-Air Missile from the APJ Abdul Kalam Island, Odisha, on Thursday, July 23, 2026. (DRDO/ANI Video Grab) | Photo Credit: ANI

The maiden flight-test of ‘Kusha’ Long-Range Surface-to-Air Missile -- expected to become a key structure of Prime Minister Narendra Modi-announced Mission Sudarshan Chakra, the future indigenous multi-layered air and missile defence network -- was successfully conducted by Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) from the APJ Abdul Kalam Island off the coast of Odisha on Thursday.

This maiden test was conducted against an electronic target simulating high-speed and high-altitude aerial threat which was successfully intercepted by the missile system, the Ministry of Defence said in a statement.

The ‘Kusha’ missile system, which is also being billed as import substitute of Russian-made S-400 AD System, is capable of neutralising a wide variety of aerial threats including fighter jets, missiles, unmanned aerial vehicles and large enemy aircraft within a wide range and altitude envelope.

The Ministry stated that all weapon system elements, including the missiles, radars, command and control centre, have been developed by various DRDO laboratories and industry partners.

Kusha employs three distinct interceptor missile variants for targeting incoming projectiles at different ranges. Kusha M1 is a short-to-medium range interceptor missile, which can take down a target within an operational range of 150 km. Similarly, Kusha M2 is a medium-to-long range interceptor having 250 km range while Kusha M3 is a long-range missile having extended reach up to 350–400 km.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh stated that the successful test-flight of ‘Kusha’ marks an important milestone in Indian defence R&D, highlighting the capability in developing long range surface-to-air missile system, possessed only by a handful of nations. This, he added, will also eliminate the import dependency for such systems and signifies a giant leap in air defence capability of the nation.

Defence Secretary and Secretary, Department of Defence R&D and Chairman, DRDO Rajesh Kumar Singh monitored all activities during the launch and congratulated all the team members involved in the successful flight-test.

Published on July 23, 2026