India is expanding private-sector participation in conventional missile manufacturing, with the government now looking at domestic production of systems capable of striking targets at ranges of up to 1,500 km. The move follows Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s decision to allow Indian private companies to manufacture conventional missiles using technologies developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
The policy shift is expected to significantly increase missile production capacity while strengthening India’s domestic defence manufacturing ecosystem.
Private firms to produce long-range missile systems
The government is identifying Indian private-sector partners for the production of the Long Range Land Attack Cruise Missile (LRLACRM), which has a reported range of 1,000-1,500 km, and the Pralay quasi-ballistic tactical missile, with a range of 150-500 km.
The missiles are expected to be manufactured through the transfer-of-technology route, allowing private companies to use DRDO-developed technologies for production.
The move comes as India seeks to reduce dependence on foreign defence imports and build greater indigenous capacity under the broader Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative.
Astra, Rudram and other missiles also in focus
Private companies have already been brought into plans for the production of other advanced missile systems. Request for Proposals have been issued for the Astra Mark I and Mark II beyond-visual-range air-to-air missiles through the technology-transfer route.
Several Indian companies, including ICOMM, Bharat Forge, Adani Defence Systems and Technologies, Bharat Dynamics and Bharat Electronics, are expected to participate in the wider missile-production programme.
The systems identified for private-sector involvement include the Next Generation Anti-Radiation Missile, Rudram-II, the UAV-Launched Precision Guided Missile and the Long Range Glide Bomb.
The list also includes the Smart Anti-Airfield Weapon, Quick Reaction Surface-to-Air Missile, Very Short Range Air Defence System and several naval anti-ship missile variants.
Move could reshape India’s defence industry
The expansion of private-sector participation is significant because it could increase production capacity beyond what government-owned defence manufacturers can achieve alone.
According to the report, private companies are already supplying around 50 subsystems used for missile integration. Bringing them further into missile production could therefore deepen the role of domestic manufacturers and ancillary industries across the defence supply chain.
The government’s strategy is also being viewed as a possible stepping stone towards greater private-sector participation in strategic missile manufacturing in the future.
For now, the focus remains on conventional missile systems. The policy is expected to give Indian defence companies a larger role in developing and manufacturing sophisticated weapons while supporting the government’s push for self-reliance in defence.
