India is on track to operationally deploy its own long-range air defense system by 2028-29. This indigenous system is designed to detect and destroy a wide array of threats, including stealth fighters, aircraft, drones, cruise missiles, and precision-guided munitions at ranges of up to 350 km. India’s foray into the development of this formidable system is part of its overarching mission to achieve self-reliance in the defense sector and bolster its national security.
The ambitious project, known as Project Kusha, is under the purview of the Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO). It seeks to establish a formidable three-layered defense system with the capability to effectively neutralize enemy aircraft and missiles from extended distances. Valued at over $2.5 billion, this project has the potential to catapult India into an elite group of nations possessing indigenous capabilities to tackle aerial threats over significant distances.
India’s ambitious Project Kusha represents a significant milestone in the nation’s quest for self-reliance in the defense sector. With the development of its own long-range air defense system, India not only bolsters its national security but also elevates itself to the league of countries with the capability to counter aerial threats at extended distances. As the LR-SAM project progresses, it serves as a testament to India’s commitment to strengthening its defense capabilities and its resolve to be a self-reliant player in the global defense arena.
The heart of this system, the Long-Range Surface-to-Air Missile (LR-SAM), is being developed to provide interception capabilities akin to the formidable Russian S-400 Triumf air defense system recently inducted by the Indian Air Force (IAF). The LR-SAM system will comprise three layers of surface-to-air missiles, each designed to engage targets at different ranges. India’s previous collaboration with Israel during the development of the Medium-Range Surface-to-Air Missile system (MRSAM), which can target aerial assets at distances of 70+ km, has been instrumental in advancing this initiative.
India’s defense forces already possess the Russian-made S-400 air defense systems, capable of hitting targets at a maximum distance of 400 km and effectively targeting threats at shorter ranges as well. China also deploys the S-400 along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with India. While China has developed its indigenous air defense systems, they are generally considered less capable than the S-400.
The leadership of the LR-SAM project has been taken up by the Indian Air Force, underlining its commitment to promoting indigenous defense hardware and strengthening the nation’s strategic position.