The authenticity of performance has not been fully verified, India's domestically produced air defense system "major breakthrough" questioned.

[Global Times Comprehensive Report] The long-standing history of India's air defense network relying mainly on imported equipment may be rewritten. The Indian Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) recently successfully conducted the first test launch of the domestically produced "Kusha" long-range air defense missile, prompting Indian media to cheer that India is about to possess domestic equipment that can rival the Russian-made S-400 long-range air defense system.

The Times of India reported that the "Kusha" long-range air defense system can effectively respond to various aerial threats at different altitude ranges, including fighter jets, missiles, drones, and large enemy aircraft. Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh stated, "The successful test launch of the 'Kusha' missile marks an important milestone in India's defense research and development field. It indicates that India has reached a relatively high level of capability in developing long-range air defense missile systems, a capability possessed by only a few countries. Furthermore, this will eliminate India's dependence on imports of long-range air defense missiles, allowing India's air defense capabilities to make a significant leap forward."

Indian media generally view the "Kusha" as a domestic alternative to the Russian-made S-400 air defense missile. Previously, India's main land-based medium to long-range air defense systems included the Russian-made S-400 long-range air defense system, the Israeli "Barak-8" medium-range air defense system, and the domestically produced "Akash" medium-range air defense system. The Malaysian website "Asian Defense Security" reported on the 24th that the fourth S-400 missile regiment ordered by India from Russia arrived in the country by sea in June this year, and India has already approved the procurement of a fifth S-400 missile regiment. Considering the Indian military's dissatisfaction with the performance of the "Akash," it is expected that the "Kusha" missile will fill the "critical capability gap" between the "Barak-8" and the "S-400."

According to the details of the "Kusha" missile released by India, it includes three different models, with the M1 model having the shortest range based on the "Akash"-NG airframe structure equipped with dual-pulse solid rockets, with a range of about 120 to 150 kilometers; the M2 model's range is increased to about 250 kilometers, primarily used for intercepting stealth aircraft and high-speed cruise missiles; the M3 model has a larger size and length, with a further extended range of 350 to 400 kilometers, capable of striking important targets such as early warning aircraft and refueling aircraft.

Although Indian media place great importance on the "Kusha" missile, the M1 model tested this time did not actually intercept a target but "simulated hitting an electronic target," only testing the missile's basic flight performance and failing to fully verify the missile's true performance in complex electromagnetic environments and combat conditions. The Indian Eurasia Times stated that the "Kusha" air defense system is planned to be deployed by 2030, but this timeline is considered unrealistic by outsiders, as previous Indian domestic missile projects like the "Akash" have experienced delays far longer than expected from testing to final service. (Chen Shan)