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] or PGLRSAM[b][2]. 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.[5][1]
| 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 |
| Specifications | |
| Warhead | Fragmentation |
Detonation mechanism | Optical proximity fuze, hit-to-kill |
Operational range | [2][3][4]
|
Guidance system | Hybrid (RF/IR) + datalink |
Launch platform | Transporter Erector Launcher |
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.[6]
Development
editThe 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.[7][8]
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).[5]
The naval version of the missile might be also developed to supplement the LR-SAM missile in the Indian Navy.[4][9]
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.[10][11]
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.[12] 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.[13][14]
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.[6]
Design
editThe 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.[5][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.[7]
The missiles may also possess short or medium range BMD capabilities. The 85% single-shot kill probability will rise to 98.5% when firing two missiles five seconds apart in salvo mode. A 500–600 km (310–370 mi) radius can be scanned by the S-band Long Range Battle Management Radar. It will be able to identify ballistic missiles and precision-guided munitions. To optimize target engagement, evaluate real-time data, and coordinate intercepts, Project Kusha will incorporate an AI-enabled decision support system. In Phase-2, interceptors with anti-hypersonic capabilities and ranges surpassing 400 km (250 mi) will be developed.[2]
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 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.[5]
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).[15] For the Project 18-class destroyer, a 6x6-meter radar is being developed for 360° coverage to detect ASBM and sea-skimming missiles up to 1,000 km (620 mi) range.[2]
Manufacturing
editAs 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.[16]
Operators
edit
Indian Air Force — 5 Squadrons (on order).[5]
Indian Navy — Planned
See also
editSimilar systems
- S-400 missile system – (Soviet Union, Russia)
- S-500 missile system – (Russia)
- HQ-9 – (China)
- Iron Dome – (Israel)
- MIM-104 Patriot – (United States)
- Terminal High Altitude Area Defence – (United States) (THAAD)
Related lists
Notes
editReferences
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.
- ^ a b c d Khosla, Air Marshal Anil (10 June 2025). "India's Own S-500 & THAAD! DRDO Announces Project Kusha Sky Shield Program That Could Revolutionize Indian Defenses". eurasiantimes.com. Retrieved 28 August 2025.
- ^ 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 Reddy, U Sudhakar (28 December 2019). "DRDO reveals 350km XRSAM missile details". The Times of India. TNN. Retrieved 4 November 2022.
- ^ 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 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 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.
- ^ 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.