Project Kusha is India’s indigenous long-range air defence system being developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). It is also referred to as the Extended Range Air Defence System (ERADS) or earlier as XRSAM.
The project aims to build a mobile, long-range surface-to-air missile system capable of detecting and intercepting hostile aircraft, drones, cruise missiles, precision-guided munitions and other aerial threats. It is often discussed as India’s indigenous counterpart to advanced systems such as the S-400, though the two systems should not be treated as identical.
Purpose and System Profile
Project Kusha is meant to strengthen India’s layered air defence architecture.
India already uses systems such as Akash, Barak-8/MRSAM, S-400 and ballistic missile defence assets. Project Kusha is expected to add an indigenous long-range interception layer between medium-range air defence systems and strategic missile defence systems.
The system is expected to include:
- long-range surveillance radars
- fire-control radars
- mobile launchers
- command-and-control systems
- multiple interceptor missile variants
- integration with India’s air defence network
Reports describe the system as having missile variants with ranges roughly between 150 km and 350–400 km, though exact operational specifications remain sensitive.
Strategic Importance
Project Kusha is important because modern warfare increasingly depends on air and missile threats.
India faces a complex aerial threat environment involving:
- fighter aircraft
- drones and swarm drones
- cruise missiles
- stand-off weapons
- precision-guided munitions
- airborne early-warning platforms
- possible stealth aircraft threats
A long-range air defence system allows India to detect and engage threats before they reach critical targets.
Its importance lies in:
- protecting strategic military assets
- strengthening air defence of cities and key installations
- reducing dependence on imported systems
- improving indigenous missile and radar capability
- supporting multi-layered air defence
- increasing deterrence against hostile air operations
Recent reports also noted Defence Minister Rajnath Singh describing Project Kusha as a potential “game changer” in India’s air defence ecosystem.
Link with Integrated Air Defence
Project Kusha is expected to work as part of a larger integrated air defence network, not as a standalone weapon.
India’s air defence depends on combining sensors, command systems and interceptors. Long-range missiles are useful only when linked with radar coverage, real-time command-and-control and secure communication networks.
Therefore, Project Kusha’s effectiveness will depend on integration with systems such as:
- national air defence command networks
- long-range radars
- IACCS-type air defence architecture
- fighter aircraft support
- electronic warfare systems
- other missile defence layers
The goal is to create a layered shield where different systems cover different ranges and types of threats.
Current Status
Project Kusha is under development by DRDO, with Indian defence public sector firms expected to play a major manufacturing role.
Reports have identified Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) and Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) as important industrial partners for radars, command systems and missile production. Open-source reporting also suggests planned induction around the 2028–2030 period, though official timelines may change depending on trials and production readiness.
In 2026, Project Kusha gained renewed attention because India has been highlighting indigenous air defence capability alongside successful DRDO missile and ballistic missile defence tests.
Specific Challenges
Project Kusha is technologically complex because long-range air defence requires accuracy, speed, tracking reliability and strong command integration.
Major challenges include:
- developing reliable long-range interceptors
- tracking multiple fast-moving targets
- countering low-flying cruise missiles
- dealing with electronic warfare and jamming
- integration with existing air defence systems
- maintaining high indigenous content
- ensuring mass production at required scale
- keeping cost lower than imported alternatives
Another challenge is that air defence is never absolute. Even advanced systems can be saturated by large numbers of drones, decoys or missiles. Therefore, Project Kusha must be part of a wider defence grid, not treated as a single complete shield.
Conclusion
Project Kusha is India’s indigenous long-range surface-to-air missile-based air defence programme. Its importance lies in creating a domestic, layered air defence capability against aircraft, drones, cruise missiles and other aerial threats.
For India, the project is significant not only as a weapon system, but as part of defence self-reliance, integrated air defence and protection of strategic assets in an increasingly missile- and drone-heavy security environment.
