Our indigenous air defence shield Project Kusha will be a game changer, says Rajnath Singh

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday (June 12, 2026) described the indigenous Project Kusha air defence programme as a “game changer” for India’s security architecture, asserting that its importance had already been demonstrated during Operation Sindoor.

Addressing scientists and officials in Hyderabad, after inaugurating the Advanced Weapon System Complex at the Defence Research and Development Organisation’s (DRDO) Defence Research & Development Laboratory (DRDL) in the Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Missile Complex, Mr. Singh said India’s indigenous air defence capabilities had successfully thwarted enemy intentions during the operation.

“Today I predict that Project Kusha will be a game changer for India’s security scenario. It is a world-class indigenous air defence system. Just as the Govardhan hill protected the entire region of Braj in the Dvapara Yuga, our air defence system provided a protective umbrella during that period (Operation Sindoor),” he said. Project Kusha is a long-range air defence missile system being developed by the DRDO to provide a comprehensive shield against a wide range of aerial threats.

The Defence Minister praised DRDO’s Missile Systems and Strategic Systems cluster for strengthening India’s technological excellence, strategic autonomy and national security. He said indigenous systems such as Akash and BrahMos had proved India’s capability to compete in the global defence technology ecosystem.

‘Nature of war changing’

Highlighting the changing nature of warfare, Mr. Singh said emerging technologies such as precision-strike systems, integrated air defence networks, hypersonic weapons, autonomous platforms, artificial intelligence and electronic warfare were reshaping modern battlefields. In this environment, he stressed the need for both resilience and deterrence.

Referring to the government’s ambitious “Mission Sudarshan Chakra”, announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his Independence Day address in 2025, Mr. Singh said the initiative would establish a multi-layered missile defence shield capable of protecting military assets, critical infrastructure and civilian establishments across the country.

“The system will provide robust protection while ensuring citizens face minimal inconvenience. It will also possess the capability to deliver a decisive response whenever required,” he said.

The Defence Minister lauded the DRDO’s progress in indigenous missile technologies, stating that the recent successes in strategic and tactical weapon programmes reflected India’s growing self-reliance and confidence in defence manufacturing.

Calling for faster induction of advanced systems into the armed forces, Mr. Singh urged the DRDO, the services and industry partners to work as an integrated ecosystem. He emphasised reducing development-to-production timelines, increasing indigenous content and enhancing mass-production capabilities to meet future operational requirements.

During the visit, Mr. Singh also toured a technical exhibition showcasing advanced weapon systems, indigenous missile platforms and other cutting-edge defence technologies developed by the DRDO.