DRDO conducts maiden flight test of Kusha long-range missile

• The Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully conducted the maiden flight-test of Kusha long-range surface-to-air missile from the APJ Abdul Kalam Island off the coast of Odisha on July 23.

• The test was conducted against an electronic target simulating high-speed and high-altitude aerial threat which was successfully intercepted by the missile system.

• The Kusha missile system is capable of neutralising a wide variety of aerial threats including fighter jets, missiles, unmanned aerial vehicles and large enemy aircraft within a wide range and altitude envelope.

• All weapon system elements, including the missiles, radars, command and control centre, have been developed by various DRDO laboratories and industry partners.

• This will also eliminate the import dependency for such systems and signifies a “giant leap” in air defence capability of the nation.

• The successful test-flight of Kusha marks an important milestone in Indian defence R&D.

• It highlights the capability in developing long range surface-to-air missile system, possessed only by a handful of nations. 

• This will also eliminate the import dependency for such systems and signifies a giant leap in air defence capability of the nation.

(The author is a trainer for Civil Services aspirants.)