New Delhi: The Research Centre Imarat (RCI), a premier laboratory of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), has invited qualified Indian private companies to participate in the development and production of advanced missile systems and guided weapons. The initiative supports the government’s vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat and aims to boost indigenous defence capabilities.
The move is expected to increase domestic production capacity, reduce dependence on imports, and accelerate the delivery of advanced weapon systems to the Indian Armed Forces.
Details of India Tactical Missile Programme
DRDO’s Research Centre Imarat (RCI), based in Hyderabad, has launched a programme to involve private Indian firms in missile and guided munition development.
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The initiative follows the government’s broader strategy of expanding private sector participation in defence manufacturing and strengthening India’s indigenous defence industry. Under the programme, selected companies will work alongside DRDO in developing, testing, manufacturing, and scaling advanced weapon systems.
Development-cum-Production Partner Model Explained
The programme will operate under the Development-cum-Production Partner (DcPP) model. Under this framework, DRDO typically selects private partners who help build prototypes and later handle large-scale manufacturing after successful trials and validation. This approach helps shorten development timelines and improves production readiness.
India Tactical Missile Programme: Which Defence Systems Are Included
According to the programme details, the focus areas include:
- Tactical surface-to-air missile systems
- Indigenous air-to-air missile platforms
- ASTRA missile ecosystem projects
- Guided munition and guided bomb systems
These technologies are considered critical for modern warfare where precision, speed, and reliability are essential.
ASTRA Missile Programme Gets a Boost
One of the major focus areas is the ASTRA Beyond Visual Range Air-to-Air Missile (BVRAAM) programme. ASTRA is India’s indigenous air-to-air missile developed by DRDO for the Indian Air Force and other defence platforms. The new private-sector partnership model is expected to strengthen the missile’s production ecosystem and support future variants.
India Tactical Missile Programme: Eligibility Criteria for Private Companies
DRDO has set strict eligibility requirements for participating firms. Companies must have:
- Minimum annual turnover of ₹100 crore
- Net worth of at least ₹34 crore
- Credit rating of BBB or higher
These requirements are designed to ensure that only financially stable and technically capable companies handle sensitive defence projects.
Safety and Compliance Requirements
Participating firms must also meet strict safety standards. Companies involved in explosive handling must establish facilities capable of safely storing and managing materials such as TNT and RDX-class explosives. They must obtain all required industrial licences and statutory approvals within one year of signing production agreements.
SAMAR Certification Mandatory
Selected companies will need to obtain a SAMAR assessment certification from DRDO Headquarters. The certification acts as a quality and capability benchmark. It helps ensure that private partners meet technical, operational, and manufacturing standards throughout the project lifecycle.
Why This Move Is Important
India has been steadily opening its defence manufacturing sector to private industry. Recent reforms have allowed greater private participation in missile development and defence production, reducing reliance on public-sector monopolies. The latest RCI initiative is expected to further strengthen India’s defence industrial base.
RCI’s Role in India’s Missile Programmes
Research Centre Imarat (RCI) is one of DRDO’s most important laboratories. It has played a key role in the development of missile guidance, avionics, navigation systems, and other strategic defence technologies.
Its collaboration with private industry is expected to accelerate innovation while maintaining high quality and reliability standards.
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FAQs
DRDO is inviting private companies to increase indigenous missile production, speed up development, and strengthen India’s defence self-reliance under the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative.
The programme includes tactical surface-to-air missiles, ASTRA air-to-air missile systems, guided bombs, and other advanced guided munitions.
Selected private firms will get opportunities to co-develop, manufacture, and scale advanced missile systems, helping expand India’s defence manufacturing ecosystem.
