The move enables the successful transition of conventional missile system development to industrial production, reflecting the continued efforts of the DRDO in leveraging the capabilities of the Indian industry, the ministry said
In a major boost to domestic defence manufacturing, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday approved the transfer of DRDO-developed conventional missile system technology to private firms in the country. The move comes nearly three months after businessline broke the story on the government’s plan to end defence PSU monopoly in missile manufacturing.
On June 5, businessline reported that 10 to 12 of DRDO’s tactical missile-development projects were distributed among two public and four private companies — Adani, Bharat Forge, ICOMM, and Solar Defence — based on their capabilities. This was a deviation from the earlier practice of relying heavily on Bharat Dynamics Ltd (BDL), a defence PSU, as the production partner.
“This transfer of technology marks an important milestone in promoting greater participation of domestic industries in the defence ecosystem, by enabling them to undertake indigenous production, in accordance with applicable qualifications, certifications, and regulatory requirements,” the ministry said.
More Indian participation
Conventional missile systems are those that are, or will be, used by the defence forces. These include the BrahMos missile, used most recently during Operation Sindoor. The others are strategic missiles, specifically those carrying nuclear warheads, which are managed, maintained, and operated by the Strategic Forces Command (SFC). These include the Agni series and sea-based or submarine-launched K-series strategic missiles.
The current move enables the successful transition of conventional missile system development to industrial production, reflecting the continued efforts of the DRDO in leveraging the capabilities of the Indian industry for the development and manufacture of advanced defence systems, the ministry observed. The objective, it added, is to enhance domestic manufacturing capabilities, strengthen the defence industrial base, and create opportunities for the participation of Indian MSMEs and other technology partners in the supply chain.
As of now, there are already 50 to 60 different classes and platforms of indigenously developed missiles, said people in the know, adding that many of them are contemporary and of global standards.
The government’s initiative aims to enhance operational capability, reduce import dependence, and increase domestic value addition, while supporting the growth of India’s defence manufacturing sector, the Defence Ministry noted.
Some of the projects in which the private industry is already collaborating with the DRDO include the Naval Anti-Ship Missile — Short Range (NASM-SR), which is the first indigenous helicopter-launched anti-ship missile, and the Rudram I, II, and III series of supersonic and hypersonic air-to-surface (ASM) ground attack and anti-radiation missiles.
The doing away of the entry barrier in the indigenous missile manufacturing ecosystem is also a requirement of the proposed Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP) 2026.
Published on August 25, 2026
