India opens missile manufacturing to private firms to cut import reliance

India is expanding defence self-reliance by allowing private companies to enter full-scale missile production. The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is transferring conventional missile technologies to domestic firms to enable this shift. The initiative is designed to reduce the country's dependence on imported defence equipment and increase indigenous value addition. Beyond domestic needs, the move also aims to strengthen India's competitiveness in the global missile export market.