NEW DELHI: In a major policy shift aimed at reforming the defense sector, the Union government may soon permit private sector companies to manufacture missiles. The government is expected to kick off the initiative by inviting proposals from private firms for the production of the Defence Research and Development Organisation’s (DRDO) Astra Mark 2 missile.
The move is aimed at accelerating the domestic defense manufacturing ecosystem while meeting the rising demands of the Indian armed forces and boosting defense exports.
According to a report by Hindustan Times, the Ministry of Defence will shortly seek proposals from private Indian entities for manufacturing the Astra Mark 2. Prominent defense and industrial players, including Tata Group, Adani Group, Bharat Forge, Mahindra Group, and ICOMM, are expected to participate in the process. Historically, missile manufacturing in India has remained almost exclusively within the domain of state-owned defense public sector undertakings (PSUs).
The decision comes against the backdrop of increasing demand from both the Indian military and friendly foreign nations. The state-run Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) currently lacks the capacity to single-handedly meet the entire volume of these requirements. Notably, Indonesia has already expressed interest in procuring the Astra missile, prompting the government to aggressively scale up production capabilities.
Developed by the DRDO, the Astra Mark 2 is a Beyond Visual Range (BVR) air-to-air missile boasting a strike range of 180 to 200 kilometers. It has been designed to counter China’s PL-15E long-range missile. The advanced weapon system is slated to be integrated into several frontline fighter aircraft, including the Tejas Mark 1A, MiG-29, Su-30 MKI, and Rafale Marine.
Reports indicate that following the Astra Mark 2 rollout, the government could also involve private firms in the development and production of the Pralay tactical ballistic missile. The Pralay missile has a range of nearly 500 kilometers, can fly at six times the speed of sound, and is considered a core component of India’s modern rocket force.
Alongside domestic missile production, the government is also working to strengthen the country’s air defense capabilities. India and Israel are jointly developing a long-range surface-to-air missile system. Additionally, India expects to receive its fifth regiment of the S-400 air defense missile system from Russia by November.
