India has crossed a major milestone in its quest for a wholly indigenous long-range air defence capability with the first successful flight-test of the Kusha missile system, also known as the Extended Range Air Defence System (ERADS) or XRSAM.

Developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) for the Indian Air Force (IAF), the project is intended to become a critical layer within India's future integrated air defence network.

The name Kusha is derived from the Sanskrit word “Kush”, meaning sacred grass. The system has been conceived as a mobile, truck-mounted and cannisterised air defence weapon capable of defending large areas against a wide spectrum of modern aerial threats.

Once operational, Kusha will complement existing capabilities provided by the Barak-8 MR-SAM, the Russian S-400 Triumf and India's Ballistic Missile Defence architecture. It is also expected to become a central component of Mission Sudarshan Chakra, India's emerging multi-layered national air defence shield.

The system is designed to engage fighter aircraft at ranges of up to 250 km, Airborne Warning and Control System aircraft at approximately 350 km, sea-skimming anti-ship missiles, stealth combat aircraft and ballistic missiles during their terminal phase. Advanced long-range surveillance and fire-control radars will support target detection, tracking and engagement.

A key feature of the program is its three-interceptor architecture. The M1 interceptor is designed for engagements out to 150 km, the M2 for around 250 km, and the M3 for ranges reaching 350-400 km. All three missiles share a common kill vehicle while employing different booster configurations to achieve their respective performance envelopes.

The project received Cabinet Committee on Security approval in May 2022. In September 2023, the Ministry of Defence granted Acceptance of Necessity for the procurement of five IAF squadrons at a projected cost of ₹21,700 crore. The system is intended to bridge the capability gap between the 80 km-range MR-SAM and the 400 km-range S-400.

A naval derivative is also under consideration and could eventually supplement the Indian Navy’s long-range surface-to-air missile inventory, further expanding the programme’s strategic significance.

Progress accelerated in August 2024 when DRDO initiated fabrication of the first M1 missiles. Orders were placed for airframes, rocket motors, kill vehicles and telemetry systems, signalling the transition from design work to hardware production.

In May 2025, Bharat Electronics Limited began manufacturing the system prototype. Development plans envisaged completion of the prototype within 18 months, followed by an extensive user evaluation phase.

The program achieved its most significant breakthrough on 23 July 2026 when DRDO successfully conducted the maiden flight-test from APJ Abdul Kalam Island off the Odisha coast. The missile intercepted an electronic target simulating a high-speed, high-altitude aerial threat, validating key elements of the system's design, radar integration and engagement chain.

Although the test marked a major achievement, it represents only the start of a lengthy qualification process. Additional M1 trials are expected before the more capable M2 and M3 interceptors enter testing. Given development timelines and earlier schedule slippages, phased induction of the complete system is likely towards the end of the decade.

The IAF's growing emphasis on indigenous solutions has reportedly intensified following recent operational experiences, leading to greater urgency in accelerating Kusha's development and deployment.

Strategically, Kusha is often compared with long-range air defence systems such as the American THAAD, Russian S-400 and Chinese HQ-9. While those systems benefit from decades of operational refinement, Kusha represents India's first attempt to field a domestically designed integrated area-defence architecture capable of engaging diverse airborne threats at extended ranges.

Beyond the interceptor missiles themselves, the program's importance lies in its networked architecture. Kusha batteries are expected to integrate with the IAF's Integrated Air Command and Control System, enabling real-time coordination with other sensors and air defence assets across the country.

As air warfare evolves towards stealth aircraft, cruise missiles, hypersonic weapons, unmanned systems and drone swarms, the success of Kusha will depend as much on its sensors, command networks and battle management systems as on missile performance.

The program therefore represents not merely the development of another interceptor, but a broader test of India's ability to design, integrate and field a world-class indigenous air defence ecosystem.

If development remains broadly on track, Kusha could emerge as the backbone of India's long-range air defence architecture throughout the 2030s, significantly reducing dependence on imported systems while strengthening the country's strategic self-reliance in advanced military technologies.

Agencies