# India DRDO technology transfer to domestic industry

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/india-drdo-technology-transfer-to-domestic-industry
> Updated: 2026-08-25T08:37:05.000Z. Sources: 12. Developments: 2.

India is expanding its indigenous defense manufacturing capabilities through the transfer of advanced technologies from the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) to domestic industry.

Initially, the Defence Metallurgical Research Laboratory (DMRL) transferred advanced naval steel manufacturing processes to the Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL). This transfer included technologies for DMR-249A, DMR-249BK grade steel billets, and DMR-249B steel plates to support the construction of naval ships and submarines.

Following this, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh approved a major policy shift to transfer technology for all conventional missile systems developed by the DRDO to the domestic private sector. This initiative aims to dismantle the long-standing manufacturing monopoly held by state-run enterprises and accelerate the transition of missile systems from development to mass production. The portfolio includes surface-to-air systems like Akash and Akash-NG, air-to-air missiles such as Astra, anti-radiation and land-attack cruise missiles, the Pralay quasi-ballistic weapon, and various anti-tank and anti-ship systems like the NASM-SR.

While this move seeks to increase private-sector and MSME participation to bolster the ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ (Self-Reliant India) vision and build robust magazine reserves, strategic Agni and K-series systems, as well as foreign-partnered projects like BrahMos and MRSAM, remain excluded from the transfer. This push follows significant growth in India’s domestic defense production, which reached Rs 1.78 lakh crore in FY 2025-26, alongside defense exports rising to approximately Rs 50,000 crore.

## Claims

- Defence Minister Rajnath Singh approved the transfer of DRDO-developed technologies for all conventional missile systems to the Indian defence industry. (corroborated by 9 sources)
- The technology transfer includes the Akash and Akash-NG surface-to-air missile systems. (corroborated by 2 sources)
- The portfolio includes VSHORADS, Astra air-to-air missiles, the Rudram anti-radiation family, and anti-tank systems such as Nag, SANT, and the man-portable ATGM. (corroborated by 2 sources)
- The transfer covers the NASM-SR anti-ship missile, indigenous land-attack cruise missiles, and the Pralay quasi-ballistic weapon. (corroborated by 2 sources)
- Strategic missiles, including the Agni and K-series, are excluded from the technology transfer. (corroborated by 2 sources)
- BrahMos and MRSAM are excluded from the transfer due to foreign partnerships. (corroborated by 2 sources)
- Domestic defence production has increased more than fourfold from Rs 43,000 crore in 2013-14 to Rs 1.78 lakh crore in FY 2025-26. (corroborated by 2 sources)
- India's defence exports have increased to approximately Rs 50,000 crore. (corroborated by 2 sources)

## Timeline

### 2026-08-25: India approves DRDO missile technology transfer to private sector

India has approved the transfer of DRDO-developed conventional missile technologies to the private sector to boost domestic manufacturing, reduce imports, and enhance military self-reliance.

12 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/india-approves-drdo-missile-tech-transfer-to-domestic-industry

### 2026-07-26: India's DMRL Transfers Advanced Naval Steel Tech to SAIL

DRDO's DMRL handed advanced naval steel billet and plate technologies to SAIL, enabling domestic production for ships and submarines and supporting India's self‑reliance drive.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/indias-dmrl-transfers-advanced-naval-steel-tech-to-sail

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Cite as: India DRDO technology transfer to domestic industry. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/india-drdo-technology-transfer-to-domestic-industry