New Delhi: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has approved the transfer of Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)-developed technologies covering all conventional missile systems to Indian defence companies for manufacturing within the country, in a major move aimed at advancing India’s objective of achieving greater self-reliance in the defence manufacturing sector.
The decision represents an important step towards increasing the participation of domestic industries in India’s defence ecosystem by allowing eligible Indian companies to undertake indigenous production of conventional missile systems, subject to the prescribed qualifications, certifications and other applicable regulatory requirements.
The Transfer of Technology (ToT) is expected to enable the smooth transition of missile systems from the development and research phase to industrial-scale manufacturing and production.
The initiative underlines DRDO’s continued efforts to utilise the technological and manufacturing capabilities available within Indian industry for the development, production and manufacture of advanced defence systems.
With this initiative, eligible defence manufacturers will be able to acquire, absorb and utilise technologies developed by DRDO for undertaking indigenous production. The move is expected to significantly strengthen domestic manufacturing capabilities while further expanding and consolidating India’s defence industrial base.
Further, the initiative is also expected to open up additional opportunities for Indian micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), along with other technology partners, to become more closely involved in the defence manufacturing supply chain. A broader and more integrated industrial ecosystem will help develop indigenous capabilities across various stages of the defence production process.
Moreover, the government has been consistently working towards increasing domestic value addition in defence manufacturing and reducing India’s dependence on imported defence equipment and technologies. The transfer of missile technologies to Indian industry is expected to support these objectives while creating further momentum for the expansion of the country’s indigenous defence manufacturing sector.
The move is also intended to contribute to the enhancement of the operational capabilities of the Indian Armed Forces by creating a stronger and more dependable domestic manufacturing base for critical missile systems. Greater involvement of Indian companies is expected to strengthen production capacity and improve resilience across the defence industrial supply chain.
Notably, DRDO will continue to engage closely with Indian industry to facilitate the effective transfer, absorption and utilisation of advanced defence technologies. Such collaboration between the defence research establishment and domestic manufacturers is expected to play an important role in converting indigenous research and technological development into viable industrial production capabilities.
The decision is aligned with the government’s broader objective of promoting Aatmanirbharta in defence through the creation of a robust and technologically capable domestic defence industrial ecosystem. The ecosystem is aimed at enabling India to increasingly design, develop, manufacture and sustain advanced military systems within the country.
The transfer of technologies related to conventional missile systems is consequently expected to provide further impetus to India’s ongoing efforts to expand indigenous defence production, increase domestic value addition and develop a stronger, more resilient and self-reliant defence manufacturing base capable of meeting the requirements of the armed forces.
