Bhubaneswar — India's Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully conducted the maiden flight test of the Kusha M1 long-range surface-to-air missile from APJ Abdul Kalam Island off the Odisha coast on Thursday.
During the trial, the missile intercepted an electronic target simulating a high-speed, high-altitude aerial threat, successfully validating its performance. The Kusha M1, the first interceptor in the Project Kusha family, has an engagement range of approximately 150 kilometres.
The @DRDO_India has successfully conducted the maiden flight test of Long-Range Surface-to-Air Missile Kusha today from the APJ Abdul Kalam Island off the coast of Odisha. pic.twitter.com/wCV3SMCIqJ
— Alpha Defense™ðŸ‡®ðŸ‡³ (@alpha_defense) July 23, 2026
Project Kusha is an indigenous long-range air defence programme designed to counter threats such as fighter aircraft, cruise missiles, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), and other large airborne targets as part of India's layered air defence network. The system is being developed in three variants: M1 (150 km), M2 (250 km), and M3 (350–400 km).
According to DRDO, the missiles, radars, and command-and-control systems have been developed by its laboratories in collaboration with Indian industry partners. The Indian Air Force is the primary user of the system, with plans to procure five squadrons. Full operational deployment is targeted for the 2028–2030 period.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh congratulated the DRDO team and described the successful maiden flight as an important milestone for India's indigenous defence capabilities.
Source : timesofindia
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