Why in News?
The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully conducted the maiden flight test of the indigenous Long-Range Surface-to-Air Missile (LR-SAM) ‘Kusha’ from APJ Abdul Kalam Island, Odisha.
What is Project Kusha?
- An indigenous Long-Range Surface-to-Air Missile (LR-SAM) system developed by DRDO.
- Designed to protect strategic military and civilian assets from: Fighter aircraft, Cruise missiles, and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs)
- Successfully intercepted a high-speed, high-altitude aerial target during its maiden test.
Key Highlights
- Long-range SAMs generally have a range of over 200 km.
- Developed with indigenous missiles, radars, and command & control systems.
- Will reduce India’s dependence on imported long-range air defence systems.
Mission Sudarshan Chakra
- Proposed indigenous multi-layered national air defence shield.
- Project Kusha and the Integrated Air Defence Weapon System (IADWS) are its key components.
- IADWS includes:
- QRSAM – Quick Reaction Surface-to-Air Missile
- VSHORADS – Very Short Range Air Defence System
- DEW – Directed Energy Weapon
Prelims Value Added
- DRDO: Defence Research and Development Organisation.
- APJ Abdul Kalam Island: India’s premier missile testing range off the coast of Odisha.
- SAM: Surface-to-Air Missile designed to intercept aerial threats.
[2026] Consider the following statements about Mission Sudarshan Chakra of India :
1.It aims to enhance India’s air defence and aerial offensive capabilities.
2.This Mission is being designed to enhance rapid, precise, and powerful defence responses, reinforcing India’s strategic autonomy.
3.One of the aims of this Mission is to cover all public places od India by an expanded nationwide shield by 2035.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?
[A] 1,2 and 2
[B] 1 and 2 only
[C] 2 and 3 only
[D] 1 only