This marks the first time a public sector unit will fully own and operate a launch vehicle business in India, akin to how private players like Skyroot and Agnikul function.
“This is not a manufacturing contract. This is a technology transfer for HAL to own,” said Pawan Goenka, Chairman of INSPACe, in an interview to CNBC-TV18. “HAL will therefore take full responsibility for these rockets as a business. That means they will source components, manufacture the rockets, launch them, develop the market, and own the P&L.”
HAL was selected from among three bidders and will pay ₹511 crore over two years for the SSLV technology. While ISRO will retain the patents, HAL will get non-exclusive design ownership and can modify or enhance the technology. “Any development they do beyond that will be their own patent,” Goenka said.
During the two-year transfer phase, HAL will manufacture two SSLVs with handholding from ISRO. However, up to 15–16 SSLV launches are expected during this period using rockets made by other vendors already under contract with NSIL. The first of these is scheduled for October this year, followed by others in early and mid-2026.
Once the transfer is complete, HAL will become the sole authorised manufacturer of SSLVs in India. “After two years, HAL will be the only company that can build SSLVs. No one else will be authorised to build them,” Goenka confirmed.
Asked if there could be future bidding rounds to include more players, Goenka ruled it out for now, saying, “Not in the near future.”
Watch accompanying video for entire conversation.
