India’s missile tech transfer to firms signals defence self-reliance on track
India is turning to its private industry to help produce missiles, hoping a wider manufacturing base can cut its import dependence while boosting its defence export capacity and deterrence against Pakistan and China. But India’s push towards self-reliance in defence manufacturing is still a distant goal, according to analysts, citing its missile supply chain’s heavy reliance on imported…
India is taking steps to strengthen its defence manufacturing sector by transferring missile technologies developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) to private companies for domestic production. This move aims to reduce the country's reliance on overseas suppliers and boost its defence export capacity.
However, analysts believe that achieving self-reliance in defence manufacturing is a long-term goal, given the complexity of missile production and the heavy reliance of India's missile supply chain on imported components. While private firms have the necessary resources and factories, they have not yet been able to build complex weapons independently.
If private companies can develop the capability for certified, repeatable, high-volume production, it would indicate a significant milestone in India's defence-industrial model. The government's commitment to regular and large orders from the private sector is crucial for the success of this initiative. Despite some progress in defence exports, such as the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile system, India still faces significant challenges in becoming a major global weapons exporter.
Written by urgent.news from South China Morning Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
