India is in the process of developing its own long-range air defence system, set to be operational by 2028-29, as reported recently. The system, known as the indigenous long-range surface-to-air missile (LR-SAM), is being developed under the ambitious 'Project Kusha' by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). Capable of detecting and destroying incoming threats such as stealth fighters, drones, cruise missiles, and precision-guided munitions within a range of up to 350km, the LR-SAM system aims to provide comprehensive air defence cover to both strategic and tactical vulnerable areas.

The indigenous 'iron dome' system is expected to be on par with the formidable Russian S-400 Triumf air defence system recently inducted by the Indian Air Force (IAF). The LR-SAM system has been approved as a "mission-mode" project by the cabinet committee on security in May 2022, and the defence ministry has given the acceptance of necessity (AoN) for the procurement of five squadrons for the IAF, with a budget of Rs 21,700 crore.

This mobile LR-SAM system is equipped with long-range surveillance capabilities and features various interceptor missiles designed to target hostile threats at distances of 150 km, 250 km, and 350 km. According to sources, the LR-SAM system boasts reliable 'area air defense,' with a single-shot kill probability of not less than 80% for single missile launches and not less than 90% for salvo launches. It is effective against high-speed targets with low radar cross-sections, making it capable of intercepting fighter-sized targets at a range of 250 km and larger aircraft like AWACS (airborne warning and control systems) and mid-air refuelers at 350 km, as confirmed by a DRDO official.

Furthermore, the firing units of the LR-SAM system can communicate with the IAF's integrated air command and control system. This system, which is a fully-automated air defense network, integrates various military and civilian radars to bridge surveillance gaps in Indian airspace. The IAF also anticipates receiving the remaining two of the five S-400 Triumf squadrons in the next year, following a delay caused by the Russia-Ukraine war. Currently, the first three S-400 Triumf squadrons have been deployed in northwest and east India to address security concerns related to China and Pakistan.

Source: timesnownews.com