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.