India’s Kusha missile test signals step closer to self-reliance for air defence

India’s first test of its Kusha long-range surface-to-air missile system is seen as a milestone that could pave the way for New Delhi to bolster its home-grown air defence network and meet the challenges of future conflicts.Developed by the state-run Defence Research and Development Organisation, the system is expected to become a key part of the two-phase Mission Sudarshan Chakra, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s plan for a multilayered national defence umbrella against ballistic missiles, fighter aircraft, drones and other threats by 2035.The Kusha’s flight test on July 23 has put the spotlight on such threats and India’s reliance on imported weaponry such as Russia’s S-400 Triumf surface-to-air missile system, whose deliveries have been delayed by Moscow due to its military needs as the Ukraine conflict continues.