India has opened the production of conventional missiles to private domestic industry by transferring technology from the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) [1].
This shift marks a significant departure from the state-led manufacturing model. By integrating private sector capacity, the government aims to accelerate the production of weaponry and diversify the national defence industrial base to meet expanding military requirements [3].
The initiative allows private Indian firms, such as the Adani Group, to manufacture homegrown weapons, including the Astra air-to-air missile and the Pralay missile [1, 3]. This transition is designed to capture a market estimated to be worth several thousand crore rupees [3].
While some reports indicate the Ministry of Defence will soon seek bids to build these systems [1], other reports said the government has already cleared the transfer of technology for all conventional missile systems [2].
The move comes as the Indian armed forces seek to expand their missile stockpiles. By utilizing private industry, the government expects to increase the speed of delivery and the scale of production beyond what state-owned entities could achieve alone [3].
DRDO, which has traditionally handled the design and production of these systems, will now act as the technology provider for these private partners [1, 4]. This allows the agency to focus more on research and development while the private sector handles the industrial scaling of existing technologies [4].
“The government has opened conventional missile production to private Indian industry”
This policy shift reflects India's broader 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' or self-reliant India initiative. By breaking the state monopoly on missile production, New Delhi is attempting to create a sustainable military-industrial complex that reduces dependence on foreign imports and leverages private capital to modernize its arsenal rapidly.
