The state-run Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) serves as the base for the production of precision-guided missile systems for the Indian military. Established in 1970, BDL is headquartered in Hyderabad, the capital of India's southern state of Telangana.
The firm manufactures missiles for the Indian Armed Forces under the supervision of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), the country's premier agency behind the development of military equipment.
On the other hand, India's maiden missile manufacturing facility started operations in 2017.
The production unit was set up as a joint venture after the Indian multinational conglomerate Kalyani Group, which operates in multiple sectors, including defence, engineering, infrastructure, automotive components, renewable energy, steel, and speciality chemicals, tied up with Israel's Rafael Advanced Defense Systems.
Named Kalyani Rafael Advanced Systems, the entity manufactures and assembles the Israeli anti-tank guided missiles known as Spike in military parlance.
Additionally, it serves as the manufacturing hub for other Israeli-origin precision-guided munitions, remote weapons platforms, and missile electronics amongst others.
Like BDL, the main factory of Kalyani Rafael Advanced Systems is based in Hyderabad.
The IAF successfully fired the Extended Range Version of the Brahmos Air Launched missile
© Photo : Indian Air Force
Where Does India Usually Tests Missiles?
Last week, the Indian military test-fired a series of Brahmos Supersonic cruise missiles, with one media report pegging the number of trials that the country's military conducted at four.
Subsequently, an official statement released by Brahmos stated that the extended-range variants, including a land-attack version of the widely-acclaimed missile, successfully destroyed their targets during the trials.
The tests were carried out on India's eastern seaboard. Generally, New Delhi conducts tests of its missiles at the Chandipur test range, located in the eastern state of Odisha.
Subsequently, an official statement released by Brahmos stated that the extended-range variants, including a land-attack version of the widely-acclaimed missile, successfully destroyed their targets during the trials.
The tests were carried out on India's eastern seaboard. Generally, New Delhi conducts tests of its missiles at the Chandipur test range, located in the eastern state of Odisha.
"Congratulations to Indian Air Force for successfully carrying out precision-strike launch of BrahMos surface-to-surface variant which has hit the 'Bull's Eye' meeting all mission parameters. BrahMos Aerospace reiterates its commitment to strengthen the firepower of Indian Armed Forces and continue to be the flagbearer of Atmanirbhar Bharat," Brahmos said on Twitter, now renamed X.
INS Mormugao, the latest guided-missile Destroyer, successfully hit 'Bulls Eye' during her maiden Brahmos Supersonic cruise missile firing
© Photo : Indian Navy
Where Else Does New Delhi Plan to Manufacture Missiles in India?
Apart from BDL and Kalyani group's missile production facilities in the country, the government of India is also eyeing another place for India's missile production: the corridor in the nation's largest state - Uttar Pradesh, which is set to emerge as a major hub of production for Brahmos missiles.
As per a statement made by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh earlier this year, the Uttar Pradesh Defence Industrial Corridor (UPDIC) is being developed to reduce India's reliance on foreign defence suppliers.
"What is important is that in the UP defense corridor, not only nuts and bolts or spare parts will be manufactured, (but) drones, UAVs, electronic warfare (systems), aircraft and BrahMos missiles will also be manufactured and assembled," Singh said at a public event in state capital Lucknow in June.
Meanwhile, a retired DRDO scientist revealed that bringing all the pieces together to give a missile the shape that it finally comes up is a long-drawn-out process.
"Every missile has a large number of components, and to manufacture these items, there are hundreds of industries spread across the country. Even the lines of assembly where the missiles are assembled are also set up in different cities," Dr. Ravi Gupta, a retired scientist who had a long stint with DRDO told Sputnik India on Monday.
The Indian Army's Brahmos Missiles, a supersonic cruise missile, are displayed during the Republic Day Parade in New Delhi, India.
© Gurinder Osan, File
India's Stockpile of Missiles
For those not in the know, India has a vast arsenal of missiles.
Amongst the prominent ones are the Brahmos (supersonic cruise missile), RudraM (anti-radiation missile), Agni (intercontinental ballistic missile), Prithvi (surface-to-surface short-range ballistic missile), Dhanush (surface-to-surface anti-ship ballistic missile), Astra (beyond visual range air-to-air missile), Akash (Medium range surface-to-air missile), just to name a few.