DRDO opens up missile production partnership for Indian private sector

In a bid to promote the domestic defence industry, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has allowed private sector firms to both develop and produce missile systems such as vertical launched surface to air missile systems programme.

In a bid to promote the domestic defence industry, the Defence Research and Development Orgsation (DRDO) has allowed private sector firms to both develop and produce missile systems such as vertical launched surface to air missile systems programme.

"Under the Development cum Production Partner (DCPP) programme, we have allowed the private sector to co-develop missile systems with us and then also produce them," senior DRDO officials told .

"Private sector firms have responded very enthusiastically for participation and bids have been received for the Vertically-launched Short-range Surface to Air Missile system (VL-SRSAM) project," they said.

The effort is part of initiatives to prepare the private sector industry to be able to develop complex military systems under the Make in India project of the Narendra Modi government.

The all-weather air defence missile system is being developed to provide point and area defence against various aerial targets like jets, fighter aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles.

The cster-based state of art weapon system would be able to identify, track, engage and destroy the target with a high kill probability. It has a strike range of about 40 km.

The DRDO has also helped private sector industry including Tata and Baba Kaly industries to develop the ATAGS howitzer which is likely to be the main artillery gun for the Indian Army in the next many decades.

( With inputs from ANI )