Defence★ Must Know

Centre to open missile manufacturing to private firms with Astra Mark 2 first

By TestNeeti Editorial TeamPublished Sunday, 12 July 2026 2 min readSource: Moneycontrol.comArticle 4 of 7

India is preparing to open missile manufacturing to private companies in one of the biggest reforms to its defence production policy, according to a Hindustan Times report. The Defence Ministry is set to issue a Request for Proposal (RFP) inviting private Indian firms to manufacture the Astra Mark 2 beyond-visual-range (BVR) air-to-air missile, with expected participants including ICOMM, Adani, Bharat Forge, the Tata Group and the Mahindra Group. The move follows rising demand from the armed forces and interest from Indonesia in acquiring the DRDO's Astra missile, which state-run Bharat Dynamics Ltd cannot fully meet. Developed by the DRDO, the Astra Mark 2 has a strike range of 180-200 km and was designed to counter China's PL-15E; it is expected to be integrated with Tejas Mark 1A, MiG-29, Su-30 MKI and Rafale Marine aircraft. The Pralay tactical ballistic missile, with a range of about 500 km, is likely to be opened next.

Key Facts & Details

9 points

1
India will open missile manufacturing to private firms, a major defence-production reform.
2
The Defence Ministry will issue an RFP for private firms to build the Astra Mark 2 BVR air-to-air missile.
3
Expected participants include ICOMM, Adani, Bharat Forge, the Tata Group and the Mahindra Group.
4
The Astra Mark 2, developed by DRDO, has a strike range of 180-200 km and counters China's PL-15E.
5
Bharat Dynamics Ltd currently cannot fully meet rising demand from the forces and foreign buyers.
6
The Pralay tactical ballistic missile, with a range of about 500 km, is likely to be opened to private firms next.

Deep Dive

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The move was partly driven by Indonesia's interest in acquiring the DRDO Astra missile, prompting expanded domestic capacity for exports.
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The Astra Mark 2 is expected to integrate with Tejas Mark 1A, MiG-29, Su-30 MKI and Rafale Marine fighter aircraft.
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Pralay is a two-stage missile capable of six times the speed of sound and forms part of India's Integrated Rocket Forces alongside the LRLACM, next-generation BrahMos and extended-range Pinaka; the fifth S-400 system is expected in November.

Exam Focus

Examiners may ask which missile is first to be opened to private manufacture (Astra Mark 2), its developer (DRDO) and range (180-200 km), the missile it counters (PL-15E), and the next candidate (Pralay).

Exam Relevance & Angle

Defence indigenisation and private-sector participation are recurring GA themes. Candidates should retain that the Astra Mark 2 (DRDO, 180-200 km BVR air-to-air missile) is the first to be opened to private firms via an RFP, with Pralay next, reflecting India's push to boost missile output and exports.

Target Exams

SBI POIBPS POSSC CGLSSC CPORRB NTPCUPSC CSEState PCS

Background & Context

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is India's premier military R&D agency, while Bharat Dynamics Ltd (BDL) is the state-run public-sector unit that manufactures missiles. A beyond-visual-range (BVR) air-to-air missile can engage targets far beyond a pilot's line of sight, a key edge in modern air combat. A Request for Proposal (RFP) is a formal tender document inviting eligible firms to bid on a project. India has progressively allowed private participation in aircraft, drones, artillery and naval platforms under its self-reliance push, but missile production had largely stayed with state-run entities until this proposed reform, which aims to expand capacity and exports.