DRDO invites pvt firms as strategic weapon partner

New Delhi: Paving the way for the private sector to manufacture strategic weapons, Defence Research and Development Organisation has invited companies to qualify for its future development and production plans.

In a first, DRDO has floated an expression of interest for the production of missile and bomb weapon systems developed by its department of missiles and strategic systems.

Weapons developed by the department include strategic missiles like the Agni series, and it is also tasked with making future variants of nuclear weapons, including submarine-launched systems.


Also Read | Inside India's post-Sindoor defence overhaul: Bigger budgets, new formations and record exports

According to the plans, Indian companies will be shortlisted based on technical and financial qualifying criteria and will then be issued specific tenders for projects being undertaken by DRDO. At present, public sector companies like Bharat Dynamics Ltd are primarily tasked with the production of strategic weapons.

Established companies, such as Solar Aerospace and Defence and Tata Advanced Systems Ltd are expected to be among those tasked with major new projects. Among the mandatory requirements for companies to qualify for the process is possession of an industrial licence for defence manufacturing, as well as a PESO licence for handling and storing explosives.

At least two companies will be selected for each project under the development-cum-production partner model. Both companies will work with DRDO to develop prototypes for testing and will also get orders once the systems are ordered in large numbers by strategic forces.

Also Read | DRDO expeditiously finalise clear, measurable key performance indicators: Parl panel on defence

Qualifying criteria for the contracts will include a minimum turnover, as well as a net worth of the firm that must be greater than 5% of the expected value of the work. The company should also have proven project management expertise and a track record of executing production orders of the required level. The ability of the industry to undertake bulk production of more than 50 or 100 units will also be evaluated in terms of infrastructure and technical capabilities. A committee of experts constituted by DRDO will visit each firm's premises to assess its strengths and capabilities before the shortlisting.