News Story: India Allows Private Companies to Build Rockets

Image: Wiki Commons

Vivek Raghuvanshi

NEW DELHI — For the first time India has broken the monopoly of state enterprise Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) and will permit private defense companies to manufacture rockets for helicopters.

"Indian Air Force (IAF) wishes to buy 200,000 70mm rockets for its helicopters and the Ministry of Defense (MoD), under its new 'Make in India' policy, is now allowing private defense companies to meet the armament and weaponry requirements of the defense forces," said an MoD defense production official who requested anonymity.

"The rockets are proposed to be developed and manufactured by the Indian industry and the project would be based on proven or matured technologies where fundamental research is not required," he said.

Currently three Indian defense forces procure rockets from OFB and imports from overseas.

Read the full story at DefenseNews