Overview
- Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday praised Project Kusha as a "game changer" while inaugurating the Advanced Weapon System Complex at DRDL in Hyderabad, and he said the system had proved its value during Operation Sindoor.
- DRDO describes Kusha as a three‑interceptor long‑range surface‑to‑air missile system with reported ranges of about 150 km for M1, 250 km for M2 and 350–400 km for M3, though technical figures remain media‑reported rather than independently verified.
- The Defence Acquisition Council granted Acceptance of Necessity for procurement of five Kusha squadrons in 2023, and officials and media place initial operational deployment in a 2028–2030 window with the M3 interceptor slated for a first trial around 2028.
- Kusha is intended to be networked with the Indian Air Force’s Integrated Air Command and Control System and linked to national radars and reported Uttam AESA sensors to enable layered tracking of aircraft, drones, cruise missiles and some ballistic threats.
- Officials say the programme advances India’s strategic autonomy and pushes closer DRDO‑industry‑academic collaboration to shorten development‑to‑production timelines, a move that could speed local manufacturing and change how military and civilian sites are protected during future crises.