India Missiles and Guided Munitions

[Nilgiri]

"Indigenous" S-400 will be under what is known as "Project Kusha".

From what I heard, a major advantage will be the standardisation of the kill vehicle components (seeker, warhead, fuses, other components) i.e differences will be only propulsive scaling for IAD tiers....for say 3 missiles similar to family format like ASTER etc.

This will be major advantage (production wise anyway)... to current S-400 missiles in Indian IAD being (underlying) different to each other: 9M96, 48N6 and 40N6

^^ Is this what you have come across @Gessler ? et al.

==========================================

40,000 crore INR ~ 4.7 billion USD

BEL eyes ₹40,000 cr from ‘Project Kusha’, ₹30,000 cr QRSAM order likely this year | Indiablooms - First Portal on Digital News Management

Bharat Electronics Ltd expects orders worth ₹40,000 crore from Project Kusha, India’s S-400 alternative, and ₹30,000 crore for QRSAM. | One of India's leading Digital News Agency offering Breaking News round the clock. Why not read our informative news portal today.

www.indiablooms.com

Bharat Electronics Eyes Rs 40,000 Crore Order From Indigenous S-400 Project

Bharat Electronics and DRDO are jointly developing key radar and control subsystems for Project Kusha, with order potential hinging on system readiness and user trials.

www.ndtvprofit.com

There is concurrent development to essentially bring about an "S-500 equivalent" in project kusha

DRDO Chief Confirms Project Kusha Equivalent to Russian S-500 System, Surpasses S-400 Capabilities - Indian Defence Research Wing

SOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG In a significant revelation, Dr. Samir V. Kamat, Chairman of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), has stated that India’s indigenous Project Kusha air defence initiative is not merely comparable to the Russian S-400 Triumf system...

idrw.org

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1931195851831152858

=====================================================


Original (Hindi only) source interview with. DRDO chairman Dr. Kamat, proj. kusha mentioned around 7.30 mark:

 

[Nilgiri]

"Indigenous" S-400 will be under what is known as "Project Kusha".

From what I heard, a major advantage will be the standardisation of the kill vehicle components (seeker, warhead, fuses, other components) i.e differences will be only propulsive scaling for IAD tiers....for say 3 missiles similar to family format like ASTER etc.

This will be major advantage (production wise anyway)... to current S-400 missiles in Indian IAD being (underlying) different to each other: 9M96, 48N6 and 40N6

^^ Is this what you have come across @Gessler ? et al.

==========================================

40,000 crore INR ~ 4.7 billion USD

BEL eyes ₹40,000 cr from ‘Project Kusha’, ₹30,000 cr QRSAM order likely this year | Indiablooms - First Portal on Digital News Management

Bharat Electronics Ltd expects orders worth ₹40,000 crore from Project Kusha, India’s S-400 alternative, and ₹30,000 crore for QRSAM. | One of India's leading Digital News Agency offering Breaking News round the clock. Why not read our informative news portal today.

www.indiablooms.com

Bharat Electronics Eyes Rs 40,000 Crore Order From Indigenous S-400 Project

Bharat Electronics and DRDO are jointly developing key radar and control subsystems for Project Kusha, with order potential hinging on system readiness and user trials.

www.ndtvprofit.com

DRDO developing 3 variants of Kusha air defence systems, induction possible by 2030

DRDO developing indigenous extended range air defence system Kusha to counter aerial threats by 2030.

www.thehindubusinessline.com

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1933593147973775613

 

[Nilgiri]

https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/navy-successfully-tests-made-in-india-anti-submarine-rocket-erasr-from-ins-kavaratti-101751984903599.html

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1942591241889407038

 

[Nilgiri]

https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2144118

Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) & Indian Air Force (IAF) successfully conducted the flight-test of indigenous Beyond Visual Range Air-to-Air missile (BVRAAM) ‘Astra’ equipped with indigenous Radio Frequency (RF) Seeker from Su-30 Mk-I platform off the coast of Odisha on July 11, 2025. During the tests, two launches were carried out against high-speed unmanned aerial targets at different ranges, target aspects and launch platform conditions. In both the cases, the missiles destroyed the targets with pin-point accuracy.


During the tests, all subsystems performed as per expectations including the RF seeker which has been indigenously designed & developed by DRDO. The flawless performance of the Astra weapon system was validated through flight data captured by Range Tracking instruments deployed by Integrated Test Range, Chandipur. These successful flight tests have re-established the accuracy and reliable performance of Astra weapon system with indigenous seeker.


Astra BVRAAM has a range exceeding 100 kms and is equipped with state-of-the art guidance and navigation system. In addition to various laboratories of DRDO, more than 50 public and private industries including Hindustan Aeronautics Limited have contributed towards successful realisation of the weapon system.


Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh complimented DRDO, IAF and industry involved in the design and development of RF seeker and stated that the successful testing of the missile with indigenous seeker is a major milestone in critical defence technology.


Secretary, Department of Defence R&D and Chairman, DRDO Dr Samir V Kamat congratulated all the teams involved during the successful flight-test.

==================================================

(Representative image)

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1943680267849507175

 

[Gessler]

Images from the book 'Weapons of Peace' - by Raj Chengappa. Thanks to RationalGuy on other forums for finding them:

And a sneak peak at India's first ICBM program 'Valiant', pursued & then shut down in the 80s after a decision was taken to pursue solid-fueled missiles instead:

The liquid engine technology developed for Valiant was later used in the Prithvi SRBMs.

 

[Nilgiri]

https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/watch-how-india-s-akash-prime-missile-downs-aerial-targets-in-ladakh-101752767748153.html

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1945778396799418637

 

[Nilgiri]

India conducts tests of short-range ballistic missiles | Caliber.Az

India has successfully test-fired two nuclear-capable short-range ballistic missiles, Prithvi-II and Agni-I, from the Integrated Test Range off the Odisha coast,...

caliber.az

 

[Gessler]

Apparently, the AoN is for 317 rounds of land-based Nirbhay/LRLACM (1000km range). The submarine-launched version (750km in anti-ship role) has already undergone up to 4 pontoon-based test launches from underwater.

Not sharing the presentation video where all this was disclosed because it got taken down.

 

[sup_lol]

India successfully tests indigenous ET-LDHCM hypersonic missile under project Vishnu

India's Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has successfully conducted a test of the Extended Trajectory Long Duration Hypersonic Cruise Missile (ET-LDHCM).

defence-industry.eu

https://thedefensepost.com/2025/07/16/india-hypersonic-missile-test/

India's true intentions shown as its conducts tests for 'most advanced' missile

India has quietly carried out several advanced missile tests in recent weeks as it continues its bid to become a military superpower

www.the-express.com

India’s New Hypersonic Missile Could Shift the Balance in Asia - Orbital Today

Following reports, India has tested their new hypersonic missile called ET-LDHCM. The missile can reach Mach 8 and has a range of 1,500km.

orbitaltoday.com

India rivals China's military after 'most advanced' hypersonic missile test

Country has confirmed quietly it has carried out tests for what it calls its most advanced missile system to date

www.themirror.com

@Gessler @Nilgiri any of this true or are they bullshit? its really hard for me to tell since Project vishnu is a classified program but a lot of media(both indian and international) seem to be reporting a test on july14th?

 

[Nilgiri]

India successfully tests indigenous ET-LDHCM hypersonic missile under project Vishnu

India's Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has successfully conducted a test of the Extended Trajectory Long Duration Hypersonic Cruise Missile (ET-LDHCM).

defence-industry.eu

https://thedefensepost.com/2025/07/16/india-hypersonic-missile-test/

India's true intentions shown as its conducts tests for 'most advanced' missile

India has quietly carried out several advanced missile tests in recent weeks as it continues its bid to become a military superpower

www.the-express.com

India’s New Hypersonic Missile Could Shift the Balance in Asia - Orbital Today

Following reports, India has tested their new hypersonic missile called ET-LDHCM. The missile can reach Mach 8 and has a range of 1,500km.

orbitaltoday.com

India rivals China's military after 'most advanced' hypersonic missile test

Country has confirmed quietly it has carried out tests for what it calls its most advanced missile system to date

www.themirror.com

@Gessler @Nilgiri any of this true or are they bullshit? its really hard for me to tell since Project vishnu is a classified program but a lot of media(both indian and international) seem to be reporting a test on july14th?

From what I can tell, there was a reporting of "under testing" in ET news article, and then dozens of other websites basically copy paste syndicate it etc and change it to "tested".

What the nature of all that, DRDO has not substantiated, so I would wait and see how it concretely develops with footage etc.

All we know is the missile is under development and supposedly some tests were "upcoming", whatever that means (as DRDO et al. as far as I'm aware has remained tight lipped).

 

[Nilgiri]

From what I can tell, there was a reporting of "under testing" in ET news article, and then dozens of other websites basically copy paste syndicate it etc and change it to "tested".

What the nature of all that, DRDO has not substantiated, so I would wait and see how it concretely develops with footage etc.

All we know is the missile is under development and supposedly some tests were "upcoming", whatever that means (as DRDO et al. as far as I'm aware has remained tight lipped).

Actually the original ET article used "testing" in the headline but "tested" in the article body:

India reportedly tests new ET-LDHCM hypersonic missile that flies at Mach 8 speed to bypass enemy air defense systems

India reportedly tests new ET-LDHCM hypersonic missile that flies at Mach 8 speed to bypass enemy air defense systems

armyrecognition.com

The lead up to it was here:

Hypersonic Programs

LRAShM: Air Defence - Anti Hypersonic (a possible variation of the KV that goes on the AD-2 BMD SAM meant to defeat enemy HCM/HGVs. DACS thrusters on nose are clearly visible): Unknown HGV...looks like a variation of the Agni-1P's RV with addition of forward fins: DRDO is for sure...

defencehub.live

 

[sup_lol]

Actually the original ET article used "testing" in the headline but "tested" in the article body:

India reportedly tests new ET-LDHCM hypersonic missile that flies at Mach 8 speed to bypass enemy air defense systems

India reportedly tests new ET-LDHCM hypersonic missile that flies at Mach 8 speed to bypass enemy air defense systems

armyrecognition.com

The lead up to it was here:

Hypersonic Programs

LRAShM: Air Defence - Anti Hypersonic (a possible variation of the KV that goes on the AD-2 BMD SAM meant to defeat enemy HCM/HGVs. DACS thrusters on nose are clearly visible): Unknown HGV...looks like a variation of the Agni-1P's RV with addition of forward fins: DRDO is for sure...

defencehub.live

haha perfect timing, js came back to check on this post and you posted 3 mins ago.

Didnt DRDO also discreetly test the LRAShM before the maiden public test with footage?

Hypersonic Programs

LRAShM: Air Defence - Anti Hypersonic (a possible variation of the KV that goes on the AD-2 BMD SAM meant to defeat enemy HCM/HGVs. DACS thrusters on nose are clearly visible): Unknown HGV...looks like a variation of the Agni-1P's RV with addition of forward fins: DRDO is for sure...

defencehub.live

Yea there has been a lot of drama regarding this missile lately.

anyway whats the big deal about this particular missile anyway? why is it getting so much more attention than the LRAShM or other hypersonic missile programs india has?

 

[Nilgiri]

haha perfect timing, js came back to check on this post and you posted 3 mins ago.

Didnt DRDO also discreetly test the LRAShM before the maiden public test with footage?


Yea there has been a lot of drama regarding this missile lately.

anyway whats the big deal about this particular missile anyway? why is it getting so much more attention than the LRAShM or other hypersonic missile programs india has?

I guess both are closely related in their core tech.

The LRAShM is anti ship focused (i.e future navy)

The ET-LDHCM is likely going to be multi platform....i.e TELs and air launch versions as well etc.

Hope they pick some easier monikers later as they mature.

 

[sup_lol]

I guess both are closely related in their core tech.

The LRAShM is anti ship focused (i.e future navy)

The ET-LDHCM is likely going to be multi platform....i.e TELs and air launch versions as well etc.

Hope they pick some easier monikers later as they mature.

I just did some reasearch and it looks like the LRAShM is basically a hypersonic glide vehicle attached to a large booster

The ET-LDHCM(isn't that a lot of letter for a damn missile) seems to be an air breathing scramjet, it's a first strike missile designed to penetrate air defences for ground based targets compared to the LRAShM which focused towards its anti ship role.

Ig it's just a lot more useful(flexible) than the LRAShM.

 

[Nilgiri]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1949706717102592324

 

[Nilgiri]

Seems it was two tests of Pralay in quick succession:

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1950098136145235994