“India’s first test of its Kusha long-range surface-to-air missile system is seen as a milestone that could pave the way for New Delhi to bolster its home-grown air defence network and meet the challenges of future conflicts,” the report by the South China Morning Post said. It cited IAF’s Air Marshal Ravi Gopal Krishna Kapoor (retd) as saying that Kusha could be integrated into the country’s air defence architecture easily as it was a domestically developed system. “The threats are multiplying with the proliferation of drones and missiles, further complicated by fifth-generation fighters. The best way of air denial is to have a robust integrated multilayered air defence system capable of detecting, identifying, engaging and destroying intruders,” Kapoor said, as per the report. He also said that Kusha could complement Russia’s S-400 Triumf surface-to-air missile systems as part of the outermost umbrella of India’s air defence, with the short-to-medium range surface-to-air missiles such as the Akash being part of the inner layer, the report added.