India is building a powerful new air defence system called Project Kusha to protect its skies from enemy missiles, aircraft, and drones. Developed byDRDO, this system will use long-range missiles and advanced radar to detect and destroy threats from far away - similar to Russia’s S-400 system.
It will be used by both the Indian Air Force and Navy, making India’s defences stronger on land and at sea.
M1, M2, M3 Get Tailored Launchers in Kusha Program
India is making big strides in building its own long-range air defence system through an ambitious program called Project Kusha.
This system, being developed by DRDO (Defence Research and Development Organisation), is designed to match global systems like Russia’s powerful S-400.
DRDO is developing two special types of launch canisters for the missiles that will be part of this system.
These canisters will hold three different interceptor missiles - M1, M2, and M3 - each designed for a different range and purpose. The first trials of the M1 missile are expected to take place in September 2025.
Also known as the Extended Range Air Defence System (ERADS), this is a long-range surface-to-air missile (SAM) system that will be used by both the Indian Air Force (IAF) and the Indian Navy.
Approval:The Indian government approved the project in May 2022 and then in September 2023, and after both the approvals, IAF received the green light to buy five squadrons for ₹21,700 crore (about US$2.6 billion).
Purpose: The system is designed to fill the gap between the shorter-range Barak-8 missiles (80 km range) and the long-range S-400 missiles (400 km range).
Missile Variants:
M1: Range of 150 km
M2: Range of 250 km
M3: Range of 350–400 km
These missiles will be capable of shooting down the following:
Stealth aircraft
Drones
Cruise missiles
Anti-ship ballistic missiles (ASBMs) moving at speeds up to Mach 7
The IAF will be the lead operator and plans to deploy eight squadrons by 2028–2030. Meanwhile, the Indian Navy will use the M1 and M2 missiles on future warships to protect India’s maritime interests.
The system will be connected with the IAF’s Integrated Air Command and Control System (IACCS) and will use advanced radars, including those used in the S-400, for accurate target detection and engagement.
The Canister Designs: Key to Mobility and Performance
The missile system will use two specially designed launch canisters, each meant for different missile types and mission needs.
Canister Type-1: For the M1 Missile
Purpose: Made only for the M1 missile, which is built using the same base as the Akash-NG airframe and has a range of 150 km.
Features:
Uses mechanical dampers and shock absorbers to protect the missile’s sensitive internal parts (like its dual-pulse rocket motor and blast fragmentation warhead) from shaking and impact during movement and launch.
Materials:
Likely made of fibre-reinforced plastic (FRP) or aluminum alloys, materials already used in other DRDO missile systems like Agni and Prahaar.
Role: M1 is designed to quickly shoot down fighter jets, drones, and cruise missiles. It has a high kill probability of over 80% (and up to 90% in a group launch).
The canister’s small size makes it easy to move around and set up quickly and is perfect for road-mobile launchers.
Canister Type-2: For the M2 and M3 Missiles
Purpose: This canister is built to carry both M2 and M3 missiles. Although both missiles use the same 250 mm kill vehicle, their booster sizes are different, giving them their different ranges.
Materials:
They have been made from lightweight and strong materials like LLDPE (a type of plastic), FRP, and honeycomb panels to ensure they stay tough but light and heat-resistant.
Design Highlights:
Cushioning: The inside of the canister is padded with felt or rubber to protect the missile from bumps and jolts.
Sliding/Repositioning Mechanism: This is a standout feature. Since M2 and M3 missiles have different lengths, the canister can adjust internally to balance the center of gravity, making sure the missile launches safely and accurately.
Fixed & Flexible: While the structure remains solid and fixed for strength, the adjustable parts allow quick switching between M2 and M3 setups.
Role:
M2 is meant to shoot down high-value airborne targets like AWACS and anti-ship ballistic missiles.
M3 is for targeting large aircraft and ballistic missiles like SRBMs (short-range) and IRBMs (intermediate-range).
The clever sliding mechanism in this canister means India doesn’t need to build separate launchers for M2 and M3 missiles. This saves money, cuts down on logistics, and simplifies operations.
This missile system will be deeply integrated into India’s defence systems—both on land and at sea.
It will work alongside the IAF’s IACCS network.
It can use radars from the S-400 system, which can spot targets up to 600 km away.
There are also plans to include AI-powered decision-making and dual-seeker tech (radar + infrared) to improve missile accuracy—especially against stealthy or fast-moving threats like China’s DF-21D “carrier-killer” missile.
With Project Kusha, India is taking a major leap in building a self-reliant, advanced air defence system.
The innovative canister designs, versatile missile variants, and strong integration with current defence networks make it one of DRDO’s most ambitious and important projects to date.
By 2030, Project Kusha could make India one of the very few countries with a fully indigenous, layered, and mobile long-range missile defence shield.
