New Delhi: The Defence Research and Development Organisation has successfully conducted the maiden flight test of the Kusha Long-Range Surface-to-Air Missile system, marking an important milestone in India’s indigenous air-defence capabilities.
The test was conducted on 23 July 2026 from APJ Abdul Kalam Island off the Odisha coast, according to the Ministry of Defence.
During the trial, the Kusha missile system was tested against an electronic target simulating a high-speed and high-altitude aerial threat. The system successfully intercepted the simulated target under the tested conditions.
The Kusha system is being developed to neutralise different types of airborne threats, including fighter aircraft, missiles, unmanned aerial vehicles and large enemy aircraft across a wide range of distances and altitudes.
The Ministry of Defence said major components of the system, including its missiles, radars and command-and-control centre, have been developed jointly by DRDO laboratories and Indian industry partners.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh described the successful maiden flight test as an important milestone in India’s defence research and development capabilities.
He said the test demonstrated India’s ability to develop a long-range surface-to-air missile system, a capability currently possessed by only a limited number of countries.
According to the ministry, Singh said the indigenous system would help eliminate India’s dependence on imports in this category and significantly strengthen the country’s air-defence capability.
Defence Secretary, Secretary of the Department of Defence Research and Development and DRDO Chairman Rajesh Kumar Singh monitored the launch activities.
He congratulated the scientists, industry partners and other personnel involved in the successful test.
The maiden flight test represents a major step in the development of the indigenous Kusha long-range air-defence system and demonstrates the performance of its key technologies against a simulated high-speed aerial threat.
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