To further fortify the country’s air defence system with long range home grown solutions, Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is developing three variants of project Kusha, with their phased induction into the armed forces likely to be completed around 2030.
While Kusha M1 will be equipped with short range missile systems to intercept incoming threats including from aircrafts, and missiles; Kusha M2 with more than medium range surface to air missiles (MRSAM); and Kusha M3 will have much more than 400 km hit reach, top DRDO sources told businessline.
Extended Range Air Defence System Kusha is being billed as the indigenous answer to Russia’s S-500 and the DRDO is confident that it will outsmart in terms of capabilities the S-400 Indian Air Force (IAF) effectively deployed to neutralise cruise missiles and kamikaze drones Pakistan fired during the Operation Sindoor.
Kusha is being designed to offer multi-layered space protection, with one system launching several interceptor missiles to cover a stretch between 100 to 200 kms against a spectrum of aerial threats.
DRDO top sources said that while the kill vehicle will remain the same for all the three variants of Kusha AD Systems, the variants will have different boosters for different ranges.
The first development trials of Kusha M1, they said, is expected to take place in September this year, and the possible induction into the armed forces by 2028. For speedier development, the trial of Kusha M2 will subsequently follow next year. And Kusha M3 trial may take place by 2027, DRDO sources emphasised.
Kinetic projectiles
The DRDO hopes to complete the induction of the extended range AD System Kusha by 2030, offering a robust wall against kinetic projectiles. This would also indicate growing aatmanirbharta in the air defence systems, they observed.
According to media reports from Moscow, S-500, inducted into 1st Special Purpose Air and Missile Defence Russian Army in 2021, has a range of less than 500 km and can engage at an altitude of up to 200 kms.
India is likely to get two more squadrons of S-400 Triumf AD missile system, rechristened as “Sudarshan Chakra” by the armed force, by 2026 to complete acquisition of a total five squadrons as part around $5.4 billion deal inked with Russia in 2018.
S-400 is considered as one of the best AD Systems in the world, possessed also by China and Turkey.