Defence / DRDO Conducts Successful Maiden Flight-Test of ‘Kusha’ Missile off Odisha Coast

Bhubaneswar, Jul 23: The Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) on Thursday successfully carried out the maiden flight-test of the indigenously developed ‘Kusha’ Long-Range Surface-to-Air Missile from the APJ Abdul Kalam Island off the Odisha coast, officials said.

The test was conducted against an electronic target simulating a high-speed, high-altitude aerial threat, which the missile system intercepted with precision.

Maiden flight-test of ‘Kusha’ Long-Range Surface-to-Air Missile was successfully conducted from the APJ Abdul Kalam Island off the coast of Odisha today. This test was conducted against an electronic target simulating high-speed and high-altitude aerial threat which was… pic.twitter.com/UeJgNOtCm5

— DRDO (@DRDO_India) July 23, 2026

Officials said, the ‘Kusha’ system is designed to neutralise a wide spectrum of aerial threats, including fighter aircraft, missiles, unmanned aerial vehicles, and large enemy aircraft, across a wide range and altitude envelope.

All components of the weapon system — missiles, radars, and the command-and-control centre — have been developed by DRDO laboratories in collaboration with industry partners.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh hailed the achievement as a major milestone in India’s defence research and development. He noted that the successful test-flight places India among a select group of nations with the capability to develop long-range surface-to-air missile systems. He added that the breakthrough would reduce import dependency and significantly enhance the country’s air defence capabilities.
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Defence Secretary and DRDO Chairman Rajesh Kumar Singh monitored the launch and congratulated the teams involved in the mission. Officials emphasised that the success of ‘Kusha’ underscores India’s growing self-reliance in advanced defence technologies and strengthens its preparedness against evolving aerial threats.