{
  "id": 1773361,
  "title": "DRDO invites pvt cos as strategic weapon partner",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/18/drdo-invites-pvt-cos-as-strategic-weapon-partner",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-08-18T18:01:33.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Economic Times",
    "slug": "the-economic-times",
    "url": "https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/drdo-invites-pvt-firms-as-strategic-weapon-partner/articleshow/133329333.cms"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In a significant shift, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has opened its doors to private companies to partner in the development and production of strategic weapons. This marks the first time DRDO has sought expressions of interest from companies for its upcoming weapon systems. These systems, which include strategic missiles like the Agni series and future nuclear weapon variants, including submarine-launched ones, will be produced by Indian firms based on technical and financial qualifications.\n\nThe private sector companies will be evaluated based on their industrial licensing for defence manufacturing, PESO license for handling explosives, minimum turnover, net worth, and track record of executing large-scale production orders. Once selected, the companies will collaborate with DRDO to develop prototypes and secure orders as the strategic forces place their bulk purchases.",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}