Former DRDO head opens aerospace and defence facility
Former DRDO head G. Satheesh Reddy inaugurated a new aerospace and defence facility in Hyderabad, highlighting India's shift toward indigenous manufacturing. The company, RADPL, focuses on missile components and unmanned aircraft systems under the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative.
Why it matters
This underscores India's strategic push for self-reliance in defence technology and the growing role of private sector partnerships in military production.
India has transformed from an importer to an exporter of defence equipment on the back of the country’s defence manufacturing ecosystem coming of age, former Chairman of DRDO G.Satheesh Reddy said while inaugurating a facility of Raghava Aerospace & Defence (RADPL) in Kokapet, Hyderabad.
Development-cum-production partners, 40% of them from the private sector, across the country are manufacturing missiles, bombs and guns. The Centre has earmarked ₹1.39 lakh crore of the defence budget for indigenous manufacturing under the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative, a clear signal of the opportunity, he said.
Pointing out to India’s growing engagement as a defence exporter, he cited Armenia showcasing three Indian weapon systems at its Republic Day parade. He urged RADPL to focus not only on indigenous manufacturing, but also on exports, the company said in a release on Wednesday.
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