Israel’s Iron Dome air defense system has received a lot of attention during the Israel-Hamas conflict. When this state-of-the-art rocket defense system was first deployed in 2011, it was thought to be unbreakable. That notion was altered, though, on October 7, when a flurry of rockets—nearly 5,000 in the first twenty minutes—were fired by the terrorist organization Hamas, based in Palestine.
While experts continue to discuss the benefits and drawbacks of this air defense system, the Times of India has claimed that India is preparing its own long-range air defense system and intends to implement it as part of the ambitious Project Kusha by 2028–2029.
What are our current knowledge and understanding of this new weapon that India is likely to acquire? In what way would it benefit India?
India’s latest long-range air defense system
Similar to the Iron Dome, India’s Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) is creating a long-range air defense system that can identify and eliminate intruding stealth fighters, aircraft, drones, cruise missiles, and precision-guided munitions at up to 350-kilometer ranges.
Media reports that the new LR-SAM would be able to intercept signals in a manner similar to that of the Russian S-400 Triumf air defense system that the Indian Air Force (IAF) just acquired.
Radars for fire control and long-range monitoring will be included, the source continued. It will also be equipped with various interceptor missile types that have a range of 150, 250, and 350 kilometers to strike adversarial targets.
According to the DRDO, the new air defense weapon will be “effective even against high-speed targets with low-radar cross-section,” and it is also intended to give strategic and tactical protection to locations that are deemed vulnerable.
The weapon under development is expected to have a single-shot kill probability of at least 80% for single missile launches and 90% for salvo launches, according to a source who spoke with Times of India.
According to the DRDO source, the system can intercept fighter-sized targets at a range of 250 kilometers, while it can intercept larger aircraft at a range of 350 kilometers, such as mid-air refuelers and AWACS (airborne warning and control systems).
Project Kusha
Project Kusha of the Indian Air Force is responsible for developing India’s replica of the Iron Dome.
The project will be carried out by the DRDO in collaboration with the public and private sectors. Funding of around Rs 21,700 crore has been approved for it. The Indian Defence Research Wing claims that Project Kusha represents a critical turning point in India’s journey towards Aatmnirbhar Bharat.