SOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG
India’s ambitious Project Kusha took a significant leap forward with the unveiling of a full-scale model of its first interceptor missile, dubbed M1, at Aero India 2025. The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) showcased the missile, signalling rapid progress in the development of this indigenous long-range surface-to-air missile (LR-SAM) system. According to sources cited by idrw.org at the event, the M1 missile is currently in the fabrication stage, with integration efforts underway and testing scheduled to commence soon. This milestone underscores India’s commitment to building a robust, multi-tiered air defence umbrella to counter evolving aerial threats.
The M1, the first of three planned interceptors under Project Kusha, is a surface-to-air weapon designed to neutralize a variety of aerial targets, including fighter jets, drones, cruise missiles, and precision-guided munitions. Weighing approximately 655 kg, the missile boasts an impressive top speed of Mach 5.5 (over 6,700 km/h), enabling it to rapidly engage fast-moving threats. With a range of 120 km, the M1 serves as the foundational layer of Project Kusha’s defence architecture, providing a rapid-response capability against adversaries at shorter distances.
The missile’s design incorporates advanced features, such as a combination of infrared (IR) and radio frequency (RF) seekers, ensuring high accuracy in tracking and intercepting targets across diverse conditions. Additionally, the M1 includes a specialized kill vehicle, enhancing its effectiveness against manoeuvring threats. This positions the M1 as a versatile interceptor, capable of addressing both conventional and emerging airborne challenges.
Project Kusha aims to develop a trio of interceptors—M1, M2, and M3—with ranges of 120 km, 250 km, and 350 km, respectively. This layered approach ensures comprehensive coverage, bridging the gap between India’s existing short- and medium-range systems, such as the Akash and Barak-8, and longer-range defences like the Russian S-400 Triumf. The M2 and M3 interceptors, still in development, will extend the system’s reach, enabling it to tackle larger aircraft, such as airborne warning and control systems (AWACS), and high-altitude ballistic threats at distances up to 350 km.
The program, spearheaded by DRDO’s Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL) and Research Centre Imarat (RCI), reflects India’s strategic vision to reduce reliance on foreign systems while enhancing its air defense capabilities. Approved by the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) in May 2022 with a budget exceeding ?21,700 crore for five squadrons, Project Kusha is slated for operational deployment by 2028-29, aligning with India’s “Make in India” initiative.
A standout revelation from Aero India 2025 was the interoperability between Project Kusha and the S-400 system, which India has been inducting since 2021. According to idrw.org, officials confirmed that both systems will share radar data and operational synergies. This means Project Kusha’s interceptors, including the M1, can leverage the S-400’s sophisticated long-range surveillance radars—capable of tracking targets up to 600 km away—while the S-400 can utilize Kusha’s radar network for enhanced situational awareness.
This collaboration extends to operational tactics: one system can track a target while the other launches an interceptor, optimizing resource use and increasing the likelihood of a successful kill. With a single-shot kill probability of at least 90% for Kusha (and up to 98.5% in salvo mode with two missiles), this integration promises a formidable defence grid. The S-400, with its 400 km range and ability to engage 36 targets simultaneously, complements Kusha’s layered approach, creating a seamless shield against threats ranging from low-flying drones to hypersonic missiles.
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