DRDO gives nine production licenses to 10 public & pvt industries

Vehicles Research & Development Establishment (VRDE), a Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) laboratory and COEP Technological University, signs an MoU in the presence of DRDO Chairman Samir V. Kamat during an event, in Ahmednagar on Saturday. Distinguished Scientist & Director General – Armament & Combat Engineering Systems (ACE) Prateek Kishore also seen.
| Photo Credit:
ANI

Vehicles Research & Development Establishment (VRDE), a Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) laboratory, transferred technologies of nine systems to ten industries, to establish a robust defence industrial ecosystem with the participation of public and private sectors.

The licensing agreements were handed over to individual company representatives in the presence of Secretary, Department of Defence R&D and Chairman, DRDO, Samir V Kamat during an event on Saturday and organised at VRDE, located in Ahilyanagar, Maharashtra.

Leading defence, PSU Bharat Electronics Ltd (BEL) got the contract to manufacture “CBRN Recce vehicle (Tracked) Mk-II” which is a reconnaissance platform capable of detecting, identifying, monitoring and marking areas contaminated with CBRN (chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear) agents and transmit this information to the supported formations.

The vehicle, which can be used in plains, desert and semi desert, is based on BMP-II platform re-engineered to accommodate different systems required for CBRN Recce purpose. Expandable mobile shelter, which offers a comfortable and spacious working environment in fields, contract also went to BEL.

The Dass Hitachi Ltd and Goma Engineering Private Ltd got separate deals for production of multi-purpose decontamination system, meant for decontamination of vehicles, equipment, personnel and terrain against biological and chemical warfare agents.

Similarly, one of the leading private defence firm, Bharat Forge, was offered the licence to produce mounted gun system (MGS) which has been designed and developed by adapting 155 mm / 52 calibre ATAGS armament system (Designed & Developed by ARDE) on 8×8 high mobility vehicle.

It is capable of operating at desert and high-altitude areas with shoot and scoot capability, and can fire at a maximum range of 45 km with high accuracy and consistency.

The contract for anti-terrorist vehicle (Tracked), the need for which arose post Mumbai terror attack in 2008, has been given to government-owned BEML Ltd and private firm, Metaltech Motor Bodies Private Ltd. IT can accommodate three persons, has all round ballistic and blast protection, and better firing capability, with capability to negotiate in narrow lanes during operations.

Tata Advanced Systems Ltd got the licence to produce urban mobility solution, Vajra-Riot Control Vehicle that DRDO believes will come in handy for police and Central Armed Police Force (CAPFs) like CRPs to control unruly mob in cities.

The deal to manufacture the full trailer of 70t tank transporter for main battle tank (MBT) Arjun Mk-1A, was given to Tata International Vehicle Applications and SDR Auto Private Ltd.

The BEML along with Dass Hitachi Ltd, got separate contracts for manufacturing of Unit Maintenance Vehicles as well as Unit Repair Vehicles forMBT Arjun.

Published on June 8, 2025