New Delhi: In a fillip to missile manufacturing within the country, the government has decided to open up the strategic missile sector to private Indian companies. Until now, the state manufacturer, Bharat Dynamics Ltd, had been catering to the production of missiles.
The move comes as Indonesia becomes the first foreign customer to acquire the Astra-Mk1 beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile (BVRAAM). As demands rise, BDL cannot cater to the growing demands of the armed forces and missile exports to friendly third countries, the Hindustan Times reported.
India and Indonesia signed a landmark defence agreement on Wednesday, for the export of Astra-Mk1 missiles and BrahMos systems during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recently concluded visit to Indonesia. This historic deal marks India’s first-ever international sale of the Astra-Mk1 and positions Indonesia as a key strategic security partner in the Indo-Pacific.
The defence ministry is preparing to issue a request for proposal (RFP) that will invite private companies and business groups, including ICOMM, Adani, Bharat Forge, Tata, and Mahindra, to produce the Astra-Mk2 missile, which has a range of 180–200 kilometres, according to the Hindustan Times report.
The missile can be used to counter the long-range PL-15 E air-to-air missile provided by China to Pakistan in the run-up to Operation Sindoor last year. The missile may be integrated with Tejas-Mk1A, MiG-29, Su-30 MKI, and Rafale Marine fighters.
According to sources cited by the Hindustan Times, the government has offered the 500km-range Pralay tactical ballistic missile for both development and manufacturing.
Pralay belongs to the integrated rocket forces, a group that also includes the newly developed long-range land-attack cruise missile (LRLACM), the next-generation BrahMos, and the extended-range Pinaka multi-barrel rocket launcher system, capable of striking targets up to 300 km away. It travels at six times the speed of sound.
The India-Pakistan conflict in 2025 gave way to the long-range stand-off weapons being used during conflicts. India is preparing to build up its missile and rocket arsenal to deter adversaries.