BDL plans to expand military hardware export to Rs 25,000 cr

Author: Mohammed Hussain

Hyderabad: Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL), manufacturer of ammunitions and missile systems, has revealed that India is now exporting warheads to friendly foreign nations.

BDL which is located on the outskirts of Hyderabad is celebrating its Golden Jubilee.

Speaking with media persons recently Commodore (Rtd) Siddharth Mishra, Chairman and Managing Director of BDL, said, “We have received an order from a friendly nation for the Advanced Light Torpedo. We have also received orders for Varunastra that are heavyweight anti-submarine torpedo and the ‘fire-and-forget’ anti-tank guided missile. Of the ‘fire-and-forget’ warheads have already been delivered.”

The Commodore and other officials who were present at the press meet refused to divulge the number of torpedoes ordered or exported. Similarly, they did not give any further information about the number of ‘fire-and-forget’ anti-tank guided missiles delivered so far.

He said, “An undisclosed number of warheads will be delivered to friendly countries. The warheads have been designed by DRDO (Defence Research and Development Organisation) and Bharat Dynamics.

He also revealed that Bharat Dynamics Ltd is working on orders worth Rs 8 crores. “The business is likely to pick up speed in the next two years.  And in another five years it would reach a staggering Rs 25,000 crore,” he said.

The existing orders which include seeker-based multi-role air defence missile (MRSAM) developed by DRDO and Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) will be completed between 2023 and 2024. 

BDL is expected to speed up co-development of Quick Reaction Surface-to-Air Missile; Akash 1S; Akash NG; Portable Anti-Tank Guided Missile and; Astra, a beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile, in collaboration with DRDO.

BDL has already signed a memorandum of understanding with Thales, UK, for Starstreak AK missiles. It is soon to sign a memorandum with T-Hub Hyderabad for innovation and new ideas.

BDL is planning to expand its presence in the country. “A new facility will be built in Amaravati, Maharashtra, for manufacturing very short-range air defence missiles,” Commodore Mishra. mohammedhussain.reporter@gmail.com