Indian company DRDO conducted the first successful test of the new long-range air defense missile Kusha, which is expected to reduce the country's dependence on Russian S-400 systems in the future. The launch was part of a program to create its own air defense system, developed by Indian specialists after many years of cooperation with Moscow in missile technologies.
Previously, New Delhi acquired five S-400 "Triumf" divisions from Russia, which became one of the key elements of Indian air defense, but in parallel, the country began to develop its own project for a similar purpose.
During the first test, the Indian missile successfully launched at an aerial target, confirming the operation of the main control and guidance systems.
The Indian project involves the creation of a family of missiles with different range capabilities. According to open data, the most powerful variants will be able to operate at a distance of up to several hundred kilometers and are designed to combat aircraft, drones, and cruise missiles.
The Russian S-400 remained one of the most modern imported solutions for India in long-range interception for many years. However, dependence on foreign supplies became one of the reasons why New Delhi began to accelerate its own developments and form a national school for the production of missile weapons.
At the same time, the new Indian development is not yet a direct replacement for Russian systems. This is about a long-term transition to its own technological base, which in the future will allow India to independently create weapons of this class.