BENGALURU, 10 SEPT 

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), in partnership with IN-SPACe, NewSpace India Limited (NSIL), and ISRO, on Wednesday signed a technology transfer agreement for the Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV).

The SSLV is a three-stage launch vehicle capable of placing satellites weighing less than 500 kg into Low Earth Orbit (LEO). Under the agreement, HAL will absorb the technology over the next two years, followed by a ten-year production phase.

HAL has been granted a non-exclusive, non-transferable license covering all aspects of SSLV technology, including design, manufacturing, quality control, integration, launch operations, post-flight analysis, training, and support. The company will lead mass production of SSLVs to meet both domestic and international demand.

HAL Chairman and Managing Director DK Sunil said the company will work closely with IN-SPACe, ISRO, and NSIL to indigenise, absorb, and commercialise the technology, ensuring high standards of reliability in small satellite launch services. He added that the initiative will create new opportunities for Indian MSMEs, start-ups, and the wider industrial ecosystem.

The transfer will also allow HAL to build, own, and operate SSLVs independently, marking its transition from a component supplier to a full-service launch provider and strengthening its dedicated space vertical.