India Successfully Conducts Maiden Test of Long-Range Surface-to-Air Kusha Missile

India's Ministry of Defence announced the successful maiden test launch of its long-range surface-to-air missile, "Kusha." The Ministry clarified that this successful trial was organized and conducted by specialists from its Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). According to the Ministry, the successful launch experiment of the Kusha missile took place on July 23, 2026, on Dr. Abdul Kalam Island, an uninhabited island off the coast of Odisha state. A press statement highlights the Kusha missile system's capability to effectively engage a wide range of aerial targets, including missiles, fighter aircraft, drones, and various large flying equipment. It is worth noting that in June 2026, it was declared that all future Indian Navy vessels would be equipped with the supersonic BrahMos cruise missiles, a joint Russian-Indian production.