New Delhi, July 12 -- India is preparing to allow private companies to enter missile manufacturing, marking one of the most significant changes in its defence production policy, according to a report by Hindustan Times.

The move follows growing international interest in Indian-made missile systems, including Indonesia's reported interest in acquiring the Defence Research and Development Organisation's (DRDO) Astra missile, prompting the government to expand production capacity to meet rising domestic and export requirements.

Although private firms have already been permitted to participate in defence sectors such as aircraft manufacturing, drones, artillery systems and naval platforms, missile production has largely remained under the c...