India Approves Transfer of DRDO Missile Technology to Boost Domestic Defence Industry

India cleared the transfer of DRDO’s conventional missile technology to domestic defence firms, permitting Indian manufacturers to produce and integrate these systems without foreign licensing, a step aimed at strengthening indigenous capability and expanding the local defence industrial base.

Rajnath Singh announced the policy during the VIMARSH 2026 DRDO‑Industry synergy meet, emphasizing new initiatives to empower MSMEs and start‑ups, including a framework for sharing DRDO software source codes, and positioning India to accelerate missile production timelines.

Defence Ministry expects the technology transfer to cut reliance on imports, improve supply‑chain security and create thousands of skilled jobs in the missile sector, while signalling a broader push for self‑reliance across India’s defence ecosystem.

Industry analysts note that the move could attract private investment, accelerate R&D collaborations, and align with recent DRDO policies that aim to share software codes with startups, potentially fostering a faster innovation cycle in missile design.