Project Kusha
Project Kusha, or Extended Range Air Defence System (ERADS), is a programme under the Defense Research and Development Organization for the Indian Air Force and Indian Navy. The programme was also previously referred to as XRSAM. The goal is to design a mobile long-range surface-to-air missile system. The phased induction of the missile system consisting three variants of interceptors into the services is expected between 2028 and 2030. It will supplement the Barak 8, S-400 and Indian Ballistic Missile Defence Programme. It is also one of the element of Mission Sudarshan Chakra.
| Project Kusha | |
|---|---|
| Type | Long-range surface-to-air missile |
| Place of origin | India |
| Service history | |
| In service | 2028 (planned)[1] |
| Used by | Indian Air Force (on order) Indian Navy (planned) |
| Production history | |
| Designer | |
| Designed | 2023 - present |
| Manufacturer | Bharat Electronics Bharat Dynamics Limited |
| Specifications | |
| Warhead | Fragmentation |
Detonation mechanism | Optical proximity fuze, hit-to-kill |
Operational range | [2][3][4]
|
| Maximum speed | Mach 5.5[6] |
Guidance system | Hybrid (RF/IR) + datalink |
Launch platform | Transporter Erector Launcher |
Project Kusha, or Extended Range Air Defence System (ERADS), is a programme under the Defense Research and Development Organization for the Indian Air Force and Indian Navy. The programme was also previously referred to as XRSAM[a][4]. The goal is to design a mobile long-range surface-to-air missile system. The phased induction of the missile system consisting three variants of interceptors into the services is expected between 2028 and 2030.[1][7]
It will supplement the Barak 8, S-400 and Indian Ballistic Missile Defence Programme. It is also one of the element of Mission Sudarshan Chakra.[8]
Development
[edit]The missile system might be used to bridge the gap between the MR-SAM (80 km) and S-400 (400 km). It is being developed as an area-defence system. The Indian Air Force will be the lead agency for this air defence system.[9][10]
The project was cleared for development by the Cabinet Committee on Security in May 2022, and was granted Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) by the Ministry of Defence in September 2023 for procuring five of its squadrons for the IAF for ₹21,700 crore (US$2.6 billion).[7]
The naval version of the missile might be also developed to supplement the LR-SAM missile in the Indian Navy.[4][11]
As of August 2024, DRDO was about to start the fabrication process of 5 M1 missiles (range of 150 km). DRDO has also placed order for 20 sets of airframes, 20 sets of rocket motors, 50 sets of kill vehicles (warhead), onboard & ground transceivers for telemetry. The missiles are expected to begin testing in early 2025.[12][13]
As of May 2025, Bharat Electronics, the development partner of DRDO in Project Kusha, was reportedly scheduled to complete the manufacturing of the prototype of the missile system within 12 to 18 months. This would be followed by user trials for a period of 12 to 36 months. BEL will also be one of the integration partner of the missile system when the production starts.[14] The first trials for M1 missile is expected in September 2025 while the same for next two missiles is expected in 2026 and 2027, respectively. The phased induction of all the three missiles is expected between 2028 and 2030.[1] Following the Operation Sindoor, the IAF has requested DRDO to fast-track the development of the missile system.[15][16]
However, as of August 2025, the timeline of M1 missile was now shifted to 2026, with the same for M2 and M3 expected to commence in 2027 and 2028, respectively.[8]
In February 2026, Defence Secretary, Rajesh Kumar Singh, announced the success of initial testing of Project Kusha missiles.[17][18]
Design
[edit]The missile system, often compared to Russia's S-400 missile system, includes three variants of interceptor missiles, designated M1, M2 and M3. The missiles will have ranges of 150 km (93 mi), 250 km (160 mi) and 350–400 km (220–250 mi), respectively. While all the variants will share the same kill vehicle, they will have different boosters to meet different ranges. This system will also feature advanced long-range surveillance and fire control radars.[7][1][3] The air defence system will be capable of detecting and destroying enemy assets like cruise missiles, stealth fighter jets, and drones at around 250 km range and larger aircraft like airborne early warning and control at a range of 350 km.[9]
The missile batteries will be able to “interact” with the Integrated Air Command and Control System. It is a fully-automated air defence network operated by the Indian Air Force that combines numerous military and civilian radars with each other in Indian airspace to make the air defence system more efficient and reliable.[7][6] Project Kusha's network-centric architecture is designed to provide coordinated missile firing, automated threat prioritization, simultaneous tracking of multiple targets, and faster reaction times in high-intensity combat scenarios. By facilitating cross-domain coordination, IACCS will guarantee that military sensors and civil aviation radars can contribute to a single situational awareness grid.[17]
The development of a long-range naval version that can intercept anti-ship ballistic missile hitting up to Mach 7 is underway, with a range of more than 250 km (160 mi).[19]
Manufacturing
[edit]As a system integrator, Bharat Electronics anticipates a possible order from Project Kusha worth up to ₹40,000 crore (US$4.7 billion). BEL is committed to accelerating system readiness and product development. The company is working on developing control systems and radars.[20]
In order to produce 300–400 missiles a year by 2032, BEL and Bharat Dynamics Limited are expanding their infrastructure. Two 3D long-range observation radars and multi-function fire-control radars will assist each squadron's eight launchers, each of which will carry twelve missiles.[21]
On April 8, 2026, BEL committed more than ₹562 crore to the Uttar Pradesh Defence Industrial Corridor, allocating 75 hectares of land in Chitrakoot for the production of Project Kusha.[22]
Operators
[edit]
Indian Air Force — 5 squadrons (on order).[7] 10 squadrons planned.[21]
Indian Navy — Planned
See also
[edit]Similar systems
- S-400 missile system – (Soviet Union, Russia)
- S-500 missile system – (Russia)
- Terminal High Altitude Area Defence – (United States) (THAAD)
Related lists
Notes
[edit]- ^ eXtra Long Range Surface to Air Missile
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d "DRDO developing 3 variants of Kusha air defence systems, induction possible by 2030". BusinessLine. 13 June 2025. Retrieved 15 June 2025.
- ^ IndiaTV (25 January 2026). Akash-NG Missile: दुश्मनों का होश उड़ाने को तैयार आकाश-NG मिसाइल, जानिए कितना खतरनाक? DRDO [Akash-NG Missile: The Akash-NG missile is ready to stun the enemy; find out how dangerous it is? DRDO] (Video) (in Hindi). Retrieved 28 January 2026 – via YouTube.
- ^ a b Sharma, Sumit (22 May 2025). "Project Kusha: DRDO's Indigenous Alternative to S-400 Air Defence System; BEL Expects ₹40,000 Cr Order, Claims Report : Key Features". defencestories.com. Retrieved 28 August 2025.
- ^ a b c "DRDO reveals 350km XRSAM missile details". The Times of India. 28 December 2019. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 20 November 2025.
- ^ Sharma, Vinay Prasad (22 January 2026). "What is 'Project Kusha' air defence programme? Inside India's bid to build a homegrown S-400 killer". wionews.com. Retrieved 22 March 2026.
- ^ a b Mishra, Martand (9 February 2026). "Explained: Project Kusha, India's indigenous long-range air defence system". Business Standard Blueprint. Retrieved 9 February 2026.
- ^ a b c d e Pandit, Rajat (31 October 2023). "India aims to deploy indigenous long-range air defence system by 2028-2029". The Times of India. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 23 February 2024.
- ^ a b Pandit, Rajat (27 August 2025). "India to begin testing new long-range interceptor missiles for defence shield next year". The Times of India. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 27 August 2025.
- ^ a b Negi, Manjeet; Chakraborty, Prateek (26 July 2023). "India sets sight on Made in India S-400-like air defence system". India Today. Retrieved 23 February 2024.
- ^ Deshpande, Smruti (3 October 2023). "IAF's Rs 3 lakh crore Made-in-India shopping list— 97 fighter jets, 156 LCHs, Sukhoi upgrades". ThePrint. Retrieved 28 August 2025.
- ^ "DRDO readies India's next generation XRSAM-long range air defence missile system" (PDF). Defence Research and Development Organization. 27 December 2019.
- ^ Karthikeyan, Varun [@Varun55484761] (29 July 2023). "DRDO is procuring 20 sets of Airframe s ,20 sets of rocket motors , 50 sets of Kill Vehicles, onboard & ground Transceivers for Telemetry and other components for it's [sic] PGLRSAM(ERSAM/XRSAM)" (Tweet). Retrieved 1 September 2024 – via X (formerly Twitter).
- ^ Karthikeyan, Varun [@Varun55484761] (28 August 2023). "Fabrication of M1 Missile (5nos) of PGLRSAM is soon to start. Airframe sections are about to procure. Kill Vehicle, seeker housing, various adaptors are about to procure" (Tweet). Retrieved 1 September 2024 – via X (formerly Twitter).
- ^ "Project Kusha Air Defence System: India developing desi S400-like missile system, prototype likely in a year". The Economic Times. 23 May 2025. ISSN 0013-0389. Retrieved 24 May 2025.
- ^ Dubey, Ajit (12 August 2025). "As lesson from Op Sindoor, Indian Air Force to focus on inducting long-range missiles". ANI. Retrieved 28 August 2025.
- ^ Trivedi, Saurabh (12 August 2025). "IAF prioritises induction of long-range missiles after Operation Sindoor success". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 28 August 2025.
- ^ a b "Project Kusha: India's 400-km 'Made in India' missile shield to counter China and Pakistan". The Times of India. 14 February 2026. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 22 March 2026.
- ^ "Project Kusha: Quietly Moves Into Trial Phase ?". AlphaDefense.in. 8 February 2026. Retrieved 9 February 2026.
- ^ Sadham, Vinay (20 August 2024). "India's New Naval Missile: Intercepting Mach 7 Anti-Ship Ballistic Missiles". Bharat Shakti. Retrieved 21 August 2024.
- ^ "Bharat Electronics Eyes Rs 40,000 Crore Order From Indigenous S-400 Project". NDTV Profit. 21 May 2025. Retrieved 27 August 2025.
- ^ a b Patel, Raghav (11 December 2025). "IAF Confirms Full 10-Sqn Order for Project Kusha Despite Potential Deal for More S-400s, Citing Need to Protect Vast Airspace". Defence News India. Retrieved 22 March 2026.
- ^ Singh, Surendra (10 April 2026). "PSU BEL acquires land in UP's Chitrakoot to manufacture 'desi Iron Dome' Kusha system". The Times of India. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 11 April 2026.
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