India Successfully Tests Kusha Long Range Surface to Air Missile

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The **Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)** successfully carried out the first flight test of the **Kusha Long-Range Surface-to-Air Missile (LR-SAM)**.
This test took place from **Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Island** off the coast of **Odisha**.

**Project Kusha** is India's own long-range air defence missile system developed locally.
Often called India's answer to the Russian **S-400 Triumf**, this automated system detects, tracks, and destroys enemy aerial threats from a safe distance.

The **DRDO** leads the research and development of this project alongside public and private defence industry partners.
The **Ministry of Defence** oversees and validates testing activities at the **Integrated Test Range (ITR)** in **Odisha**.

This project aims to build a multi-layered air defence shield under the **Sudarshan Chakra** vision to protect key strategic assets and reduce dependence on imported weapons.

The **M1** missile variant can hit enemy targets up to a distance of **150 km**.
The **M2** missile variant offers an extended engagement range of up to **250 km**.
The **M3** missile variant provides long-range defense capabilities reaching up to **350 km**.
It can neutralize fast-moving threats across various heights, from low-altitude cruise missiles to high-flying spy aircraft.
The system features home-grown **AESA** radars, automated battle control software, command centers, and advanced missile seekers.
It delivers high success rates through direct hit-to-kill technology and proximity detonation during massive aerial attacks.