Project Kusha

Project ''Kusha'', or Extended Range Air Defence System (ERADS), is a programme under the Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) for the Indian Air Force and Indian Navy. The programme was also previously referred to as XRSAM or PGLRSAM. 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 Indo-Israeli Barak 8, Russian S-400 and Indian Ballistic Missile Defence System in the Indian Armed Forces.

Development

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 (IAF) will be the lead agency for this air defence system.

The project was cleared for development by the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) in May 2022, and was granted Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) in September 2023 for procuring five of its squadrons for the IAF for .

The naval version of the missile might be also developed to supplement the LR-SAM missile in the Indian Navy.

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.

As of May 2025, Bharat Electronics (BEL), 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. 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.

Design

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, 250 km and 350 km, 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. 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 (AEW&CS) at a range of 350 km. The missiles may also possess short or medium range BMD capabilities. It will have a single-shot kill probability more than 80% and not less than 90% probability in salvo launch mode.

The missile batteries will be able to “interact” with the IAF's integrated air command and control system (IACCS). It is a fully-automated air defence network operated by Indian Air Force which will be built to combine numerous military and civilian radars with each other in Indian airspace to make the Air Defence system more efficient and reliable.

According to a report, the naval variant exceeding 250 km-range missile will be capable of intercepting anti-ship ballistic missile (ASBM) with a speed of Mach 7.

Operators

;
* — 5 Squadrons (on order).
* — Planned

See also

Similar systems

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* (THAAD)

Related lists

* List of surface-to-air missiles
* List of anti-aircraft weapons

Notes

References

{{Indian missiles

Surface-to-air missiles of India
Post–Cold War weapons of India
Defence Research and Development Organisation
Indian Air Force