What is Project Kusha? Rajnath Singh Likens India's Air Defence Shield to 'Govardhan Hill'

India

is ready with its own security architecture, which has already proved its mettle in Operation Sindoor, according to Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. Singh hailed the indigenous 'Project Kusha' air defence system as a transformative asset for India's security, comparing its protective capability to the legendary Govardhan Hill.

What is Project Kusha?

In simple words, Project Kusha is an air defence system that will act as India's robust protective shield.

• Project Kusha is an indigenous, long-range Surface-to-Air Missile (SAM) defence system.
• It is being developed by the DRDO.
• It features three interceptor variants (150 km, 250 km, and 400 km ranges).
• It can protect against stealth aircraft, drones, and hypersonic weapons.
• It is slated for operational deployment around 2028-2030.

What Rajnath Singh Said on Project Kusha

"Today I predict that the Project Kusha will be a game changer for India's security scenario," Union Minister Rajnath Singh said while adressing the inaugural ceremony of the Advanced Weapon System Complex at DRDL (DRDO) in Hyderabad.

#WATCH | Hyderabad, Telangana | Defence Minister Rajnath Singh says, “Today I predict that the Project Kusha will be a game changer for India’s security scenario. It is a world-class indigenous air defence system, which has proved its importance during Operation Sindoor. No… pic.twitter.com/1DnYu9hHRx

— ANI (@ANI) June 12, 2026

"It is a world-class indigenous air defence system, which has proved its importance during Operation Sindoor. No further proof is needed... Just as the Govardhan hill protected the entire region of Braj in the Dvapara Yuga, our air defence system provided a protective umbrella for the entire region during that period," said Rajnath Singh. Under Operation Sindoor, Indian armed forces had destroyed terror camps at nine known locations in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir last year. "The international order is undergoing a period of tension and transformation; where old assumptions are crumbling, and new alliances & challenges are taking shape. In such an environment, there is a need to possess resilience - the capacity to absorb any shock and bounce back; and deterrence - the ability to instill fear in the mind of the aggressor that a befitting reply would be given if a hostile eye is cast," he said.