DRDO conducted the maiden flight test of the indigenous long-range surface-to-air missile Kusha on 23 July 2026 from APJ Abdul Kalam Island; the missile intercepted an electronic target simulating a high-speed, high-altitude aerial threat.
About the Test
- Date & Location: 23 July 2026, APJ Abdul Kalam Island (Odisha).
- Outcome: Successful interception of an electronic target simulating a high-speed, high-altitude threat.
- Agency: Conducted by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
Kusha — Classification & Role
- Type: Long-range surface-to-air missile (LRSAM).
- Operational Role: Layered air-defence coverage against fighter aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles and various missile threats.
- Programme Aim: Project Kusha seeks to form a multi-layered air and missile defence shield by 2035.
System Components & Development
- Indigenous Elements: Missiles, radars and command-and-control components developed by DRDO laboratories and industry partners.
- Integration: Designed for integration within an Integrated Air and Missile Defence (IAMD) architecture.
IASPOINT Booster Facts
- APJ Abdul Kalam Island: Principal missile test facility off Odisha’s coast (formerly Wheeler Island).
- DRDO: Defence R&D agency under the Ministry of Defence responsible for indigenous weapons development.
- SAM Classification: Surface-to-air missiles are categorised by engagement range into short-, medium- and long-range systems.