India's DRDO Tests Kusha Long‑Range Surface‑to‑Air Missile and Advances Pralay Tactical Ballistic Missile

On July 23, India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) conducted a successful maiden flight of the M1 long‑range surface‑to‑air missile, part of the Kusha programme. The test took place from APJ Abdul Kalam Island off Odisha and intercepted an electronic target simulating a high‑speed, high‑altitude threat. The Kusha system is designed to neutralise a wide variety of aerial threats up to 150 km, with later variants (M2, M3) planned for ranges of 250 km and 350‑400 km. Development partners include Bharat Dynamics Limited, Solar Industries and Bharat Electronics Limited, and the missile will be integrated into the Indian Air Force’s Integrated Air Command and Control System (IACCS).

In parallel, India is fielding the Pralay missile, a short‑range, solid‑fuel, road‑mobile ballistic missile developed by DRDO. With a range of 150‑500 km, Pralay is intended for conventional strike missions against high‑value targets such as command centres, air‑defence sites and logistics hubs, providing a rapid, precise, and hard‑to‑intercept capability that complements other systems like BrahMos and Nirbhay.

Both programmes underline India’s push to expand its indigenous missile portfolio and strengthen conventional deterrence while reducing reliance on foreign systems.