From IACCS and Project Kusha to a possible Pantsir-S1 layer, India is building an integrated air-defence ecosystem around its long-range S-400 firepower.&nbsp;Russia has formally responded to India’s requirement for five additional S-400 squadrons, potentially taking India’s planned strength from five to ten. But the bigger story is not simply the number of Russian missile systems India could eventually operate. It is the increasingly sophisticated Indian architecture being built around them.<h2>India gives the S-400 more eyes</h2>At the heart of this architecture is IACCS, the Integrated Air Command and Control System.The indigenous Indian Air Force network connects multiple sensors and command-and-control nodes to create a wider air picture. Information can come from ground-based radars, Netra and Phalcon airborne early-warning aircraft and other air-defence sensors.&nbsp;This potentially gives the S-400 additional eyes beyond its own sensors.&nbsp;A threat detected by one sensor can be incorporated into the wider picture, allowing commanders to select the appropriate weapon. In effect, the sensor detecting a target does not necessarily have to belong to the system engaging it.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/after-penguin-row-sonia-gandhi-memoir-finds-new-publisher-in-harpercollins-1788529311246">After Penguin row, Sonia Gandhi memoir finds new publisher in HarperCollins</a><h2>Protecting the S-400</h2>The S-400 will always be a high-value target during a conflict, as was clear during Op Sindoor. Drones, cruise missiles and loitering munitions could potentially be used to overwhelm or attack its components.&nbsp;This makes reports of Indian interest in Russia’s Pantsir-S1 particularly significant. The shorter-range gun-and-missile system could potentially provide point defence around valuable long-range assets, allowing S-400 interceptors to be reserved for more demanding threats.<h2>Project Kusha</h2>India is simultaneously developing an indigenous long-range layer under DRDO’s Project Kusha, or Extended Range Air Defence System. It was successfully tested earlier this year.&nbsp;Kusha is expected to employ multiple interceptor classes against aircraft, cruise missiles, drones and other airborne threats, complementing systems such as the S-400, MRSAM, Akash, QRSAM and shorter-range defences.<h2>India’s air-defence umbrella</h2>The emerging architecture therefore extends far beyond one missile.&nbsp;India is moving towards overlapping layers of sensors, command networks and interceptors, with IACCS helping connect the battlespace.&nbsp;The S-400 provides the long-range punch. Kusha could deepen the indigenous layer. Shorter-range systems protect the gaps.&nbsp;But IACCS could be the nervous system holding it together.&nbsp;In the next air war, the decisive advantage may belong not merely to the missile that flies farthest, but to the network that detects first, decides first and fires first.

India is building an integrated air-defence network around the S-400 by combining IACCS, Project Kusha, shorter-range systems and a possible Pantsir-S1 layer to create overlapping sensors, command networks and interceptors.

From IACCS and Project Kusha to a possible Pantsir-S1 layer, India is building an integrated air-defence ecosystem around its long-range S-400 firepower. Russia has formally responded to India’s requirement for five additional S-400 squadrons, potentially taking India’s planned strength from five to ten. But the bigger story is not simply the number of Russian missile systems India could eventually operate. It is the increasingly sophisticated Indian architecture being built around them. India gives the S-400 more eyes At the heart of this architecture is IACCS, the Integrated Air Command and Control System. The indigenous Indian Air Force network connects multiple sensors and command-and-control nodes to create a wider air picture. Information can come from ground-based radars, Netra and Phalcon airborne early-warning aircraft and other air-defence sensors. This potentially gives the S-400 additional eyes beyond its own sensors. A threat detected by one sensor can be incorporated into the wider picture, allowing commanders to select the appropriate weapon. In effect, the sensor detecting a target does not necessarily have to belong to the system engaging it. Also Read: After Penguin row, Sonia Gandhi memoir finds new publisher in HarperCollins Protecting the S-400 The S-400 will always be a high-value target during a conflict, as was clear during Op Sindoor. Drones, cruise missiles and loitering munitions could potentially be used to overwhelm or attack its components. This makes reports of Indian interest in Russia’s Pantsir-S1 particularly significant. The shorter-range gun-and-missile system could potentially provide point defence around valuable long-range assets, allowing S-400 interceptors to be reserved for more demanding threats. Project Kusha India is simultaneously developing an indigenous long-range layer under DRDO’s Project Kusha, or Extended Range Air Defence System. It was successfully tested earlier this year. Kusha is expected to employ multiple interceptor classes against aircraft, cruise missiles, drones and other airborne threats, complementing systems such as the S-400, MRSAM, Akash, QRSAM and shorter-range defences. India’s air-defence umbrella The emerging architecture therefore extends far beyond one missile. India is moving towards overlapping layers of sensors, command networks and interceptors, with IACCS helping connect the battlespace. The S-400 provides the long-range punch. Kusha could deepen the indigenous layer. Shorter-range systems protect the gaps. But IACCS could be the nervous system holding it together. In the next air war, the decisive advantage may belong not merely to the missile that flies farthest, but to the network that detects first, decides first and fires first.

India is building an integrated air-defence network around the S-400 by combining IACCS, Project Kusha, shorter-range systems and a possible Pantsir-S1 layer to create overlapping sensors, command networks and interceptors.

Pantsir, Kusha, IACCS: How India could strengthen and protect its S-400 squadrons

After the successful maiden test of the Kusha long-range surface-to-air missile, India is accelerating its push to build a powerful indigenous missile shield. The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is expected to carry out three interceptor trials over the next 12 months as Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Mission Sudarshan Chakra gathers pace.&nbsp;On Thursday, the DRDO conducted the first reported test of the Kusha M-1 interceptor off the Odisha coast. The missile successfully intercepted an electronic target that simulated a high-speed, high-altitude aerial threat during the trial.&nbsp;The Kusha air defence system is designed to destroy a wide range of aerial threats, including fighter aircraft, missiles, unmanned aerial vehicles and large enemy aircraft across a broad range of distances and altitudes.&nbsp;Defence Minister Rajnath Singh described the successful test as a major milestone for India's defence research and development. He said the achievement demonstrates India's ability to develop a long-range surface-to-air missile system, a capability possessed by only a handful of countries.&nbsp;He also said the programme will reduce India's dependence on imports and significantly strengthen the country's air defence capability.<h3>Next phase of Kusha testing</h3>The next phase of testing will include trials of the Kusha M-2 interceptor with a range of 150 kilometres, followed by the M-3 interceptor with a target range of 400 kilometres.&nbsp;Project Kusha received approval from India's Cabinet Committee on Security in May 2022, but the programme reportedly gathered fresh momentum following the commencement of Operation Sindoor.&nbsp;The M-1, M-2 and M-3 long-range surface-to-air interceptors are reportedly expected to bridge the gap between India's 80-kilometre-range medium-range surface-to-air missile system and the S-400 air defence system.&nbsp;The system will form a key component of India's future multi-layered anti-ballistic missile shield under Mission Sudarshan Chakra.&nbsp;Recent conflicts have underscored the growing role of long-range missiles and drones in modern warfare. Along with its interceptor missiles, Project Kusha also includes advanced long-range radar systems designed to detect hostile missile launches across the border early and enable rapid interception of incoming aerial threats.

India is accelerating the development of its indigenous Kusha air defence system after the DRDO successfully tested the M-1 interceptor, with further trials planned to strengthen the country's multi-layered missile shield under Mission Sudarshan Chakra.

After the successful maiden test of the Kusha long-range surface-to-air missile, India is accelerating its push to build a powerful indigenous missile shield. The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is expected to carry out three interceptor trials over the next 12 months as Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Mission Sudarshan Chakra gathers pace. On Thursday, the DRDO conducted the first reported test of the Kusha M-1 interceptor off the Odisha coast. The missile successfully intercepted an electronic target that simulated a high-speed, high-altitude aerial threat during the trial. The Kusha air defence system is designed to destroy a wide range of aerial threats, including fighter aircraft, missiles, unmanned aerial vehicles and large enemy aircraft across a broad range of distances and altitudes. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh described the successful test as a major milestone for India's defence research and development. He said the achievement demonstrates India's ability to develop a long-range surface-to-air missile system, a capability possessed by only a handful of countries. He also said the programme will reduce India's dependence on imports and significantly strengthen the country's air defence capability. Next phase of Kusha testing The next phase of testing will include trials of the Kusha M-2 interceptor with a range of 150 kilometres, followed by the M-3 interceptor with a target range of 400 kilometres. Project Kusha received approval from India's Cabinet Committee on Security in May 2022, but the programme reportedly gathered fresh momentum following the commencement of Operation Sindoor. The M-1, M-2 and M-3 long-range surface-to-air interceptors are reportedly expected to bridge the gap between India's 80-kilometre-range medium-range surface-to-air missile system and the S-400 air defence system. The system will form a key component of India's future multi-layered anti-ballistic missile shield under Mission Sudarshan Chakra. Recent conflicts have underscored the growing role of long-range missiles and drones in modern warfare. Along with its interceptor missiles, Project Kusha also includes advanced long-range radar systems designed to detect hostile missile launches across the border early and enable rapid interception of incoming aerial threats.

India is accelerating the development of its indigenous Kusha air defence system after the DRDO successfully tested the M-1 interceptor, with further trials planned to strengthen the country's multi-layered missile shield under Mission Sudarshan Chakra.

India to test fire three Kusha long-range surface-to-air missiles | Gravitas

In a major milestone for national security and defence technology, India has successfully conducted the maiden flight test of its indigenous Kusha long-range surface-to-air missile (LRSAM) system. Developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) in close collaboration with Indian industry partners, the initial flight test validated that the missile, radar, launcher, and command-and-control systems executed and worked together effectively as a cohesive unit.&nbsp;<h3>About Kusha long-range surface-to-air missile</h3>&nbsp;The Kusha system is engineered to detect, track, and destroy a comprehensive spectrum of aerial threats, including enemy fighter jets, cruise missiles, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs/drones), and large enemy aircraft across extended ranges and altitudes.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/what-is-tara-drdo-s-new-glide-kit-turns-unguided-bombs-into-smart-weapons-features-explained-1778232869949">What Is TARA? DRDO’s new glide kit turns unguided bombs into smart weapons; Features explained</a><h3>Kusha vs S-400</h3>&nbsp;While India currently operates the Russian-built S-400 Triumf—which is already in active service with the Indian Air Force—Kusha represents India's transition toward domestic production of long-range air defence platforms.&nbsp;Although the S-400 provides immediate operational readiness, Kusha is designed to offer a comparable long-range protective shield. Being fully indigenous, Kusha allows India to manage maintenance, routine upgrades, and scaled production domestically without relying on foreign supply chains.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">The <a href="https://x.com/DRDO_India?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DRDO_India</a> has successfully conducted the maiden flight test of Long-Range Surface-to-Air Missile Kusha today from the APJ Abdul Kalam Island off the coast of Odisha. Kusha missile system is capable of neutralising wide variety of aerial threats including fighter jets,… <a href="https://t.co/EceUgGM1HR">pic.twitter.com/EceUgGM1HR</a>&mdash; Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) <a href="https://x.com/rajnathsingh/status/2080285107085258781?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 23, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

The successful maiden flight aligns directly with the nation's Make in India and Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiatives. Operating alongside medium and short-range platforms such as Akash and Barak-8, as well as existing S-400 batteries, Kusha will complete a robust, multi-layered air defence network. <h3>Kusha’s Key Advantage</h3> Developing and producing long-range air defence platforms locally guarantees long-term sustainability, reduces foreign import dependency, and ensures complete control over strategic air defence infrastructure. <h3>Technological Roadmap to Induction</h3> While the maiden launch marks a crucial triumph, several rigorous developmental phases remain before the armed forces can formally induct Kusha: <ul><li>The missile must consistently prove its ability to destroy diverse targets—from agile fighter jets to low-RCS drones and high-speed missiles.</li><li>Flawless real-time communication between radars, mobile launchers, missiles, and command hubs must be demonstrated across all future test firing scenarios.</li><li>Trials will subject the system to varied geographical and extreme climatic conditions to guarantee real-world combat reliability.</li></ul> Once DRDO refines the platform based on trial outcomes, Kusha will transition to final military user evaluations before operational deployment. For a visual breakdown of the launch and technical details of Project Kusha, see this India Conducts Maiden Flight Test Of Long-Range 'Kusha' Air Defence Missile System

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has successfully conducted the maiden flight-test of 'Kusha,' India’s indigenous Long-Range Surface-to-Air Missile (LRSAM), marking a milestone in building a multi-layered air defence shield against high-speed aerial threats.

In a major milestone for national security and defence technology, India has successfully conducted the maiden flight test of its indigenous Kusha long-range surface-to-air missile (LRSAM) system. Developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) in close collaboration with Indian industry partners, the initial flight test validated that the missile, radar, launcher, and command-and-control systems executed and worked together effectively as a cohesive unit. About Kusha long-range surface-to-air missile The Kusha system is engineered to detect, track, and destroy a comprehensive spectrum of aerial threats, including enemy fighter jets, cruise missiles, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs/drones), and large enemy aircraft across extended ranges and altitudes. Also read: What Is TARA? DRDO’s new glide kit turns unguided bombs into smart weapons; Features explained Kusha vs S-400 While India currently operates the Russian-built S-400 Triumf—which is already in active service with the Indian Air Force—Kusha represents India's transition toward domestic production of long-range air defence platforms. Although the S-400 provides immediate operational readiness, Kusha is designed to offer a comparable long-range protective shield. Being fully indigenous, Kusha allows India to manage maintenance, routine upgrades, and scaled production domestically without relying on foreign supply chains.

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has successfully conducted the maiden flight-test of 'Kusha,' India’s indigenous Long-Range Surface-to-Air Missile (LRSAM), marking a milestone in building a multi-layered air defence shield against high-speed aerial threats.

Major defence breakthrough: DRDO test-fires Kusha LRSAM system, hits simulated target

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Pantsir, Kusha, IACCS: How India could strengthen and protect its S-400 squadrons

India to test fire three Kusha long-range surface-to-air missiles | Gravitas

Major defence breakthrough: DRDO test-fires Kusha, hits simulated target