India successfully test-fires long-range interceptor missile Kusha, advancing indigenous air defense system

Published Jul 27, 03:59 PM UTC

India has successfully conducted the maiden flight test of a long-range surface-to-air interceptor missile, named Kusha, marking a key milestone in developing a domestic air defense system to rival Russia's S-400 Triumf. The test, conducted from A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Island off the coast of Odisha, intercepted a simulated high-speed, high-altitude aerial target. The project includes three variants with ranges of 150 km, 250 km, and 350-400 km, aiming to fill the gap between the S-400 (400 km range) and the Barak-8 (70 km range). Defense Minister Rajnath Singh stated the system will eliminate import dependency for such systems. However, India remains reliant on foreign systems for now, having recently approved the acquisition of five additional S-400 systems. The indigenous system is expected to be ready for operational deployment in three to four years after further validation trials.