Project Kusha

Last updated

Project Kusha
TypeLong-range surface-to-air missile
Place of origin India
Service history
In service2028-29 (planned) [1]
Used by Indian Air Force (on order)
Indian Navy (planned)
Production history
Designer Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDO)
Designed2023 - present
Specifications
Warhead Fragmentation
Detonation
mechanism
Optical proximity fuze

Operational
range
[2] [3]
  • M1 (MR-SAM) : 150 km
  • M2 (ER-SAM) : 250 km
  • M3 (XR-SAM) : 350 km
Guidance
system
RF Datalink
Launch
platform
Transporter Erector Launcher

Project Kusha (also known as ERADS [lower-alpha 1] or PGLRSAM [lower-alpha 2] ) is an Indian long-range mobile surface-to-air missile system being developed by the Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO). The missile system will consist of at least three types of interceptors and is expected to be deployed by the Indian Air Force by 2028–2029. [1] [4]

Contents

It will supplement the Indo-Israeli Barak 8, Russian S-400 and Indian Ballistic Missile Defence System in the Indian armed forces.

Development

The missile system might used to bridge the gap between the MR-SAM (80 km) and S-400 (400 km). It is being developed as an area-defence system. The Indian Air Force (IAF) will be the lead agency for this air defence system. [5] [2]

The project was cleared for development by the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) in May 2022, and was granted Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) in September 2023 for procuring five of its squadrons for the IAF for 21,700 crore (US$2.6 billion). [2]

The naval version of the missile might be also developed to supplement the LR-SAM missile in the Indian Navy. [6] [7]

As of August 2024, DRDO is about to start the fabrication process of 5 M1 missiles (range of 150 km). DRDO has also placed order for 20 sets of airframes, 20 sets of rocket motors, 50 sets of kill vehicles (warhead), onboard & ground transceivers for telemetry. The missiles are expected to begin testing in early 2025. [8] [9]

Design

The missile system includes at least three types of interceptor missiles. The missiles will have ranges of 150 km, 250 km and 350 km. This system will also feature advanced long-range surveillance and fire control radars. [4] [2] The air defence system will be capable of detecting and destroying enemy assets like cruise missiles, stealth fighter jets, and drones at around 250 km range and larger aircraft like airborne early warning and control (AEW&CS) at a range of 350 km. [5] The missiles may also possess short or medium range BMD capabilitiesIt will have a single-shot kill probability more than 80% and not less than 90% probability in salvo launch mode. [1] [2]

The missile batteries will be able to “interact” with the IAF’s integrated air command and control system (IACCS). It is a fully-automated air defence network operated by Indian Air Force which will be built to combine numerous military and civilian radars with each other in Indian airspace to make the Air Defence system more efficient and reliable. [1]

According to a report, the naval variant of the 250 km-range missile will be capable of intercepting anti-ship ballistic missile (ASBM) with a speed of Mach 7. [10]

Operators

Flag of India.svg  India

See also

Similar systems

Related lists

Notes

  1. Extended Range Air Defence System
  2. Precision Guided Long Range Surface to Air Missile

Related Research Articles

The Strategic Forces Command (SFC), sometimes called Strategic Nuclear Command, forms part of India's Nuclear Command Authority (NCA). It is responsible for the management and administration of the country's tactical and strategic nuclear weapons stockpile. It was created on 4 January 2003 by the Vajpayee Government. Air Marshal Teja Mohan Asthana became its first commander-in-chief.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme</span> Indian Ministry of Defence programme

The Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP) was an Indian Ministry of Defence programme for the research and development of the comprehensive range of missiles. The programme was managed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Ordnance Factories Board in partnership with other Indian government political organisations. The project started in 1982–83 under the leadership of Abdul Kalam who oversaw its ending in 2008 after these strategic missiles were successfully developed.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Akash (missile)</span> Indian surface-to-air missile series

Akash is a medium-range mobile surface-to-air missile (SAM) system developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and produced by Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL). Surveillance and Fire control radar, tactical control and command center and missile launcher are developed by Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), Tata Advanced Systems Limited and Larsen & Toubro. The Akash missile system can target aircraft up to 45 km (28 mi) away. It has the capability to neutralise aerial targets like fighter jets, cruise missiles and air-to-surface missiles. It is in operational service with the Indian Army and the Indian Air Force.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Astra (missile)</span> Indian beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile

Astra is an Indian family of all weather beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile, developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation. Different missiles of this family are capable of engaging targets at varying distances of 500 m (0.31 mi) up to 340 km (210 mi). Astra Mk-1 has been integrated with Indian Air Force's Sukhoi Su-30MKI and will be integrated with Dassault Mirage 2000, HAL Tejas and Mikoyan MiG-29 in the future. Limited series production of Astra Mk-1 missiles began in 2017.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Indian Ballistic Missile Defence Programme</span> Indian military defence system, established 2000

The Indian Ballistic Missile Defence Programme is an initiative to develop and deploy a multi-layered ballistic missile defence system to protect India from ballistic missile attacks. It was launched in 2000 after the Kargil War by the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government. Testing was carried out and continuing as of 2006, and the system was expected to be operational within four years according to the head of the country's missiles development programme, Vijay Kumar Saraswat.

Swordfish is an Indian active electronically scanned array (AESA) long-range tracking radar specifically developed to counter ballistic missile threat. It will be a part of the Indian Ballistic Missile Defense Programme. First testing of this radar was in March 2009. Main aim of the test was to validate the capabilities of the Swordfish Long Range Tracking Radar (LRTR). "The missile to be hit will be fired from a longer distance than it was in the earlier test. DRDO tested whether the radar could track the incoming missile from that distance or not," said a member of the project. This radar is an acknowledged derivative of the Israeli EL/M-2080 Green Pine long range radar, which is the critical component of that country's Arrow missile defense system. However, it differs from the Israeli system as it employs Indian Transmit Receive modules, signal processing, computers and power supplies. It is also more powerful than the base Green Pine system and was developed to meet India's specific BMD needs.

The Indian Air Force has been undergoing a modernization program to replace and upgrade outdated equipment since the late 1990s to meet modern standards. For that reason, it has started procuring and developing aircraft, weapons, associated technologies, and infrastructures. Some of these programs date back to the late 1980s. The primary focus of current modernization and upgrades is to replace aircraft purchased from the Soviet Union that currently form the backbone of the air force.

Agni-VI(Sanskrit: अग्नि; IAST: Agni; lit. Fire) is an MIRV-capable intercontinental ballistic missile under development by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) for the Strategic Forces Command (SFC) of the Indian Armed Forces.

India has studied, produced and used various strategic and tactical missile systems since its independence. Decades long projects have realised development of all types of missile systems including ballistic, cruise, anti-ship, air-defence, air-to-air and anti-missile systems. India is one of seven countries in the world with intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) and one of four countries with anti-ballistic missile systems. Since 2016, India has been a member of Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Missile defense systems by country</span>

Missile defense systems are a type of missile defense intended to shield a country against incoming missiles, such as intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) or other ballistic missiles. The United States, Russia, India, France, Israel, Italy, United Kingdom, China and Iran have all developed missile defense systems.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rudram (missile)</span> Indian anti-radiation, air to surface missile system

The Rudram is a series of supersonic and hypersonic air-to-surface ground attack and anti-radiation missiles in development by the Defence Research and Development Organisation of India. It can be launched from a range of altitudes with large standoff distance for destroying enemy surveillance radars, communication stations and bunkers.

The DRDO Smart Anti-Airfield Weapon (SAAW) is a long-range precision-guided anti-airfield weapon developed by India's Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). It is designed to be capable of engaging ground targets with high precision up to a range of 100 kilometres (62 mi).

INS <i>Anvesh</i> (A41) Missile range instrumentation ship

INS Anvesh, formerly known as the DRDO Technology Demonstration Vessel or Project 20 vessel), is a missile range instrumentation ship built for the Indian Navy. The ship is a project of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and built by Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pralay (missile)</span> Indian tactical to short-range ballistic missile

Pralay is a canisterised surface-to-surface, short-range ballistic missile (SRBM) for battlefield use developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) of India. The missile is an amalgamation of technologies developed for exoatmospheric interceptor missile Prithvi Defence Vehicle (PDV) from the Indian Ballistic Missile Defence Programme, and the Prahaar tactical missile. The project to develop Pralay was sanctioned in March 2015 with a budget of 332.88 crore.

The High Speed Low Drag (HSLD) bomb is a family of new generation short range air-dropped precision-guided munition that is currently being developed by India's Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). This general-purpose bomb is made for the Indian Air Force (IAF) and can be used against the destruction of strategic high value enemy infrastructure from stand-off distances. HSLD is comparable to Mark 80 series of bombs used by United States Air Force (USAF).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Akash-NG</span> Indian surface to air missile series

Akash - New generation abbreviated as Akash-NG is a mid-ranged mobile surface-to-air missile defense system developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and produced by Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) and Bharat Electronics (BEL).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">VL-SRSAM</span> Indian surface to air missile series

The Vertical Launch – Short Range Surface to Air Missile, or VL-SRSAM is a quick reaction surface-to-air missile developed by the Indian Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). During mid-course flight, the missile uses fibre-optic gyroscope based inertial guidance mechanism while in terminal phase uses active radar homing. With lock on before launch (LOBL) and lock on after launch (LOAL) capability, the missile receives mid-course update via datalink. VL-SRSAM intended to replace older Barak 1 surface to air missile system onboard Indian Navy warships. It will also be used as short range air defence system for Indian Air Force.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">VSHORAD (India)</span> Indian anti-aircraft missile

The Very Short Range Air Defence System, or VSHORADS, is a fourth generation, man-portable air-defense system (MANPADS) developed by Research Centre Imarat (RCI),a research lab under Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), located in Hyderabad. Multiple DRDO laboratories along with Indian Industry Partners are participating in the project. It is designed for anti-aircraft warfare and neutralising low altitude aerial threats at short ranges.

Extended Range Air Defence System (ERADS), is an Indian long-range mobile surface to air missile defence system being developed by the Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) under Project Kusha. The missile system will be deployed by Indian Air Force.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "India aims to deploy indigenous long-range air defence system by 2028-2029". The Times of India. 31 October 2023. ISSN   0971-8257 . Retrieved 23 February 2024.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Deshpande, Smruti (31 October 2023). "'Desi' S-400: All about Project Kusha, India's very own long-range air defence system". ThePrint. Retrieved 23 February 2024.
  3. "ERADS, Desi S-400 : IAF Not To Opt For Additional S-400, Instead Will Go For DRDO's Extended Range Air Defence System". India's growing Military power. 2 December 2022.
  4. 1 2 "S-400 Missile and Project Kusha". Drishti IAS. Retrieved 23 February 2024.
  5. 1 2 "India sets sight on Made in India S-400-like air defence system". India Today. Retrieved 23 February 2024.
  6. Reddy, U Sudhakar (28 December 2019). "DRDO reveals 350km XRSAM missile details". The Times of India. TNN. Retrieved 4 November 2022.
  7. "DRDO readies India's next generation XRSAM-long range air defence missile system" (PDF). Defence Research and Development Organization. 27 December 2019.
  8. Karthikeyan, Varun [@Varun55484761] (29 July 2023). "DRDO is procuring 20 sets of Airframe s ,20 sets of rocket motors , 50 sets of Kill Vehicles, onboard & ground Transceivers for Telemetry and other components for it's PGLRSAM(ERSAM/XRSAM)" (Tweet). Retrieved 1 September 2024 via Twitter.
  9. Karthikeyan, Varun [@Varun55484761] (28 August 2023). "Fabrication of M1 Missile (5nos) of PGLRSAM is soon to start. Airframe sections are about to procure. Kill Vehicle, seeker housing, various adaptors are about to procure" (Tweet). Retrieved 1 September 2024 via Twitter.
  10. "India's New Naval Missile: Intercepting Mach 7 Anti-Ship Ballistic Missiles". Bharat Shakti. 20 August 2024. Retrieved 21 August 2024.