DRDO conducts maiden flight test of 'Kusha' long-range surface-to-air missile

📌 Summary:

• DRDO on Thursday successfully conducted the maiden flight test of the 'Kusha' Long-Range Surface-to-Air Missile (SAM) from APJ Abdul Kalam Island off the Odisha coast
• The test intercepted an electronic target simulating a high-speed, high-altitude aerial threat
• A long-range SAM typically has a range over 200 km; for comparison India already operates the Russian S-400 Triumf (up to ~400 km)
• Project Kusha is an indigenous long-range SAM system to protect strategic military and civilian assets from fighter jets, missiles, UAVs and large aircraft across a wide range and altitude envelope
• All elements — missiles, radars, command-and-control — were developed by DRDO labs and industry partners; Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said it will eliminate India's import dependency for such systems
• Last year DRDO tested the Integrated Air Defence Weapon System (IADWS) combining indigenous QRSAM, VSHORADS missiles and a high-power laser Directed Energy Weapon (DEW)
• Together, Kusha and IADWS are seen as major steps toward a home-grown nationwide security shield under Mission Sudarshan Chakra, targeted over the next 10 years

🎯 UPSC Relevance: GS3 Science & Tech / Defence — indigenous air-defence development, self-reliance (Atmanirbhar Bharat) in strategic systems, and layered national air-defence architecture.

📝 Prelims Facts:

• 'Kusha' is an indigenous Long-Range SAM; test conducted from APJ Abdul Kalam Island, Odisha
• Long-range SAMs have ranges above 200 km; India operates the S-400 Triumf (~400 km)
• IADWS combines QRSAM, VSHORADS and a laser-based Directed Energy Weapon
• Mission Sudarshan Chakra aims at a nationwide security shield over ~10 years

🔑 Key Term: Surface-to-Air Missile (SAM) — a missile launched from the ground to intercept and destroy aerial threats such as aircraft, missiles and drones.