India is taking a major step towards strengthening its defence manufacturing sector by opening conventional missile production further to private companies. The move is expected to significantly increase missile production and reduce dependence on foreign suppliers.
According to a Hindustan Times report, the Narendra Modi government is identifying Indian private-sector companies to manufacture the Long Range Land Attack Cruise Missile (LRLACRM), with a reported range of around 1,000 to 1,500 km. The Pralay quasi-ballistic tactical missile, with a range of 150 to 500 km, is also being brought into the private production ecosystem.
The missiles will be manufactured by Indian companies through a transfer-of-technology route using technologies developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). The move follows Defence Minister Rajnath Singh's decision to allow greater participation of the Indian private sector in conventional missile manufacturing.
Several major Indian defence companies are expected to play a role in the expanded production programme. These include Bharat Forge, Adani Defence Systems and Technologies, ICOMM, Bharat Dynamics and Bharat Electronics.
The private sector is also being brought into the production of several other weapons systems. These include the Astra beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile, Rudram-II, the Next Generation Anti-Radiation Missile, precision-guided missiles, glide bombs and a range of naval and air-defence weapons.
The government has already issued requests for proposals for Astra Mark I and Mark II missiles through the technology-transfer route. The Astra Mark I has a reported range of around 110 km, while the Mark II is designed for a range of around 150 km.
The move is being seen as an important part of India's wider push for self-reliance in defence. While private companies have already been supplying several missile subsystems, greater involvement in complete missile production could substantially expand the country's manufacturing capacity.
Officials and defence industry sources believe that opening conventional missile production to private players could eventually pave the way for wider participation in more strategic areas of defence manufacturing.
The expansion is also expected to create opportunities for smaller ancillary companies involved in components, electronics, engineering and specialised manufacturing.
For the government, the objective is two-fold: increase the country's defence production capacity while strengthening the domestic military-industrial ecosystem. The move is therefore being viewed as another major step towards achieving the broader goal of an increasingly self-reliant Indian defence sector.
Reader Comments 0