According to information published by Vinay Sadham on August 20, 2024, India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is advancing the Indian Navy’s defensive capabilities with the development of a new long-range surface-to-air missile.
This missile, with a range exceeding 250 kilometers, is engineered to intercept Anti-Ship Ballistic Missiles (ASBMs) traveling at speeds up to Mach 7, providing the navy with a formidable defense against a spectrum of aerial threats.
The missile is believed to be a naval variant from the Long Range Surface-to-Air Missile (LRSAM) system, under development as part of Project Kusha.
This project encompasses a suite of three long-range air defense missiles, with ranges spanning 150 km, 250-300 km, and 400 km, drawing comparisons to Russia’s S-400 system. While the DRDO is also working on a ballistic missile defense shield to protect India from long-range nuclear threats.
The urgency for developing such capabilities stems from the increasing global threat posed by ASBMs, which are ballistic missiles repurposed to target naval vessels.