Hyderabad

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday described the indigenous air defence programme, Project Kusha, as a major milestone in strengthening India's national security and predicted that it would significantly enhance the country's defensive capabilities in the coming years.

Speaking at the inauguration of the Advanced Weapon System Complex at the Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL) in Hyderabad, Singh said the home-grown missile defence project has the potential to reshape India's security architecture.

Project Kusha, currently being developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), is a long-range surface-to-air missile system designed to counter a wide range of aerial threats. Equipped with interceptor missiles capable of engaging targets at distances of 150 km, 250 km and 400 km, the system is intended to tackle stealth aircraft, drones, cruise missiles, ballistic missiles and even hypersonic threats. The project is expected to become operational between 2028 and 2030.

Emphasising its strategic significance, the Defence Minister said the system had already demonstrated its value during Operation Sindoor, the tri-services military operation launched in 2025 following the terror attack in Pahalgam. According to him, the performance of India's indigenous air defence network during the operation underscored the importance of developing advanced domestic capabilities.

Drawing a comparison from Indian mythology, Singh said the protective role played by the country's air defence system was similar to the shelter provided by Govardhan Hill in the Dvapara Yuga. He remarked that just as the hill safeguarded the people of Braj, India's air defence shield offered comprehensive protection during a critical period.

The Defence Minister also highlighted the growing collaboration within India's defence ecosystem. He noted that DRDO laboratories, defence public sector undertakings, private companies, startups, micro, small and medium enterprises, and academic institutions are now working together more closely than ever before. This integrated approach, he said, would accelerate the transition from research and innovation to manufacturing and operational deployment.

Singh reiterated that the government has placed considerable confidence in DRDO to lead the development of advanced indigenous defence technologies and reduce dependence on foreign systems.

Referring to the evolving global security environment, he said the world is witnessing increasing instability, with conflicts, geopolitical tensions and emerging security challenges reshaping international relations. In such circumstances, he stressed that countries must possess both resilience and deterrence.

According to Singh, resilience enables a nation to withstand and recover from shocks, while deterrence ensures that potential adversaries understand the consequences of hostile actions. He said these two qualities are essential for safeguarding national interests in an increasingly uncertain world.

The Defence Minister further observed that modern warfare is changing rapidly, with technologies such as artificial intelligence, electronic warfare systems and advanced sensors playing a growing role on the battlefield. In this context, he said initiatives like Project Kusha strengthen public confidence by demonstrating that India is prepared to meet future security challenges with advanced indigenous capabilities.

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Earlier in the day, Singh also met several distinguished personalities in Hyderabad, including badminton player Srikanth Kidambi, shooter Esha Singh, and actors Teja Sajja and Adivi Sesh, among others, at Jubilee Hills.