India has successfully carried out the maiden flight test of the Kusha Long-Range Surface-to-Air Missile (LRSAM), marking a significant step in enhancing the country's indigenous air defence network.
The test was conducted by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) from Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Island off the Odisha coast. During the trial, the missile successfully intercepted an electronic target designed to simulate a high-speed, high-altitude aerial threat, meeting all mission objectives.
The Kusha missile system has been designed to engage a broad range of airborne targets, including fighter aircraft, cruise missiles, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), and large surveillance aircraft across long distances and varying altitudes.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh described the successful test as a landmark achievement for India's defence sector. He said the development represents a major advancement in the country's air defence capability and highlights India's growing expertise in developing sophisticated missile systems that only a few nations currently possess.
According to the Ministry of Defence, every major component of the Kusha system—including the missile, radar, command-and-control network, and associated technologies—has been developed by DRDO laboratories in collaboration with Indian industry partners. The programme is expected to reduce India's dependence on imported long-range air defence systems while strengthening the domestic defence manufacturing ecosystem.
Defence Secretary and DRDO Chairman Rajesh Kumar Singh monitored the trial and congratulated the scientists, engineers, and industry teams involved in the successful mission.
The successful maiden test is expected to pave the way for additional developmental trials before the missile system enters operational service with the Indian Armed Forces. Once inducted, Kusha is expected to become a key element of India's multi-layered air defence architecture, improving the country's ability to detect and neutralise modern aerial threats.
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