What happened
The Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully conducted the maiden flight-test of the ‘Kusha’ Long-Range Surface-to-Air Missile from APJ Abdul Kalam Island off the coast of Odisha. DRDO reported that the missile system intercepted an electronic target simulating a high-speed and high-altitude aerial threat during the test conducted on 23 July 2026.
Background and earlier position
DRDO presents ‘Kusha’ as a long-range surface-to-air missile system under development. DRDO attributes the development of weapon-system elements—including missiles, radars, and a command-and-control centre—to DRDO laboratories and industry partners, with the maiden flight-test milestone being the first flight-test performance outcome stated in the provided communication.
What changed now
DRDO reported a successful interception in the maiden flight-test of the ‘Kusha’ Long-Range Surface-to-Air Missile. DRDO also describes the system as capable of engaging a range of aerial threat categories, based on the stated threat basket and the high-speed, high-altitude electronic target used for the test.
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