NE DEFENCE BUREAU
NEW DELHI, AUG 25
From laboratories to production lines, India’s missile manufacturing ecosystem is set for a major indigenous push, with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh approving the transfer of DRDO-developed technologies of all conventional missile systems to Indian defence companies for domestic production.
- Defence Minister Rajnath Singh clears ToT of all conventional DRDO-developed missile systems
- Move opens wider production space for Indian industry, MSMEs and technology partners
- Indigenous manufacturing push aims to cut imports, boost domestic value addition
- DRDO to work with industry for absorption of advanced missile technologies
- Decision follows sixth positive indigenisation list covering 405 strategic items worth ₹3,070 crore
The decision marks a significant expansion of the government’s Aatmanirbharta drive, opening the door for wider participation of domestic industry in manufacturing advanced missile systems and strengthening India’s defence industrial base.
Under the approved framework, eligible Indian companies will be able to undertake production of DRDO-developed conventional missile technologies, subject to applicable qualifications, certifications and regulatory requirements.
DRDO technologies get an industry pathway
The Transfer of Technology (ToT) is designed to bridge the crucial gap between missile development and large-scale industrial production.
The move will enable India’s private and public defence industries to absorb advanced technologies developed by DRDO and translate them into indigenous manufacturing capabilities. It is also expected to create greater opportunities for Indian MSMEs and technology partners to participate in the wider defence supply chain.
The Ministry of Defence said the initiative is aimed at “enhanc[ing] domestic manufacturing capabilities, strengthen[ing] the defence industrial base and creat[ing] opportunities for the participation of Indian MSMEs and other technology partners in the supply chain.”
The greater involvement of industry is expected to strengthen production capacity while creating a broader ecosystem around advanced defence technologies.
Import dependence in the crosshairs
The initiative comes with a larger strategic objective: enhancing operational capability while reducing India’s dependence on imported defence equipment and increasing domestic value addition.
The government expects greater industrial participation in missile manufacturing to support the continued expansion of India’s defence production sector and deepen the country’s indigenous technology base.
DRDO, meanwhile, will continue working closely with Indian industry to facilitate technology transfer and absorption, helping ensure that laboratory-developed capabilities successfully make the transition to industrial production.
“DRDO remains committed to working closely with Indian industry to facilitate the transfer and absorption of advanced defence technologies and to further strengthen the country’s indigenous defence capabilities,” the official statement said.
405 more items join indigenisation drive
The missile technology decision comes shortly after the Department of Defence Production notified the sixth Positive Indigenisation List, comprising 405 strategically important items with an estimated business potential of ₹3,070 crore.
The list includes missile systems such as Konkurs-M, Invar and MRSAM, along with defence electronics including radars, sonars, fire-control systems and satellite communication systems. High-explosive anti-tank ammunition and other critical defence equipment are also covered.
The latest measures underline the government’s effort to move indigenisation from policy announcements to a sustained manufacturing ecosystem involving domestic companies across the defence value chain.
15,700 items already indigenised
The scale of the ongoing transformation is reflected in the fact that more than 15,700 defence items have been successfully indigenised, resulting in estimated import substitution worth around ₹9,000 crore over the past five years.
In addition, defence public sector undertakings have placed procurement orders—including in-house production—worth approximately ₹10,000 crore with domestic vendors up to March 2026.
The latest DRDO ToT initiative is therefore positioned as another major link in India’s expanding defence manufacturing chain—taking indigenous missile technology from the development stage towards wider industrial production and reinforcing the country’s ambition to become increasingly self-reliant in critical military capabilities.
