In May 2025, Pune (Maharashtra)-based Armament Research & Development Establishment (ARDE) arm of Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) signed a Licensing Agreement for Transfer of Technology (LAToT) with Pune (Maharashtra)-based NIBE Limited for the Pinaka Multi Barrel Rocket Launcher (MBRL) and the Battery Command Post (BCP).
- This newly signed agreement aims to bolster the industrial base for the development and manufacturing of indigenous defence equipment.
About Pinaka MBRL:
i.It is a state-of-the art indirect fire weapon system designed to neutralize aerial targets with high precision and rapid response.
- It is named after Lord Shiva’s divine Bow “Pinak”. It has replaced the Russian Grad BM-21 rocket launcher for the Indian Army (IA).
ii.It consists of two pods, each containing 6 rockets and is capable of firing 12 rockets in salvo mode within 44 seconds (s), covering a target area of 700×500 meters (m).
iii.It is an indigenous weapon system designed and developed by DRDO’s Pune (Maharashtra)-based laboratory, ARDE in partnership with various agencies such as: High Energy Materials Research Laboratory (HEMRL), Research Centre Imarat, Defence Research and Development Laboratory(DRDL) and Proof & Experimental Establishment (P&EE).
- Munitions India Limited (MIL) and Economic Explosives Limited (EEL) are the production agencies for ammunition.
- While, Mumbai (Maharashtra-based Larsen & Toubro Limited (L&T) and Tata Power Company Limited (TPCL) are involved in production of Pinaka Launcher and BCP.
VEM Technologies Handed over 1st Centre fuselage for LCA Tejas Mk-1A to HAL
In May 2025, Hyderabad (Telangana)-based VEM Technologies Private Limited handed over the 1st centre fuselage assembly for ingeniously developed Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas Mk 1A to Bengaluru (Karnataka)-based Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) in Hyderabad, Telangana.
- HAL received this centre fuselage assembly in the presence of Sanjeev Kumar, Secretary (Defence Production) and D.K. Mittal, Chairman & Managing Director (CMD) of HAL.
- The handover marked a major milestone in setting up a 4th production line for LCA Mk 1A at HAL-Bengaluru, in addition to the two existing lines in HAL-Bengaluru and HAL-Nashik (Maharashtra).
- Also, this is for the 1st time a major sub-assembly for the LCA Tejas has been manufactured by a private India company.
About LCA Tejas Mk 1A:
i.It is a single-engine, 4.5 generation, single seat, mutli-role fighter aircraft. It has replaced LCA Mk1 that attained Full Operation Capability (FOC) in 2020.
ii.It is being manufactured by Indian Public Sector Undertaking (PSU), HAL.
About Defence Research and Development Organisation(DRDO):
It is the Research and Development (R&D) wing of the Ministry of Defence (MoD), Government of India (GoI).
Chairman- Dr. Samir Vankatpati Kamat
Headquarters- New Delhi, Delhi
Established-1958
