The Indian Space Research Organisation invited commercial aerospace industry participation to manufacture and integrate the Launch Vehicle Mark-3, popularly known as the ‘Bahubali’ heavy-lift rocket.
Through commercial wing NewSpace India Limited and space regulator IN-SPACe, the space agency released an expression of interest to transfer manufacturing technology and assembly operations to private industrial consortia. The LVM3 is India’s most powerful operational launch vehicle, capable of carrying four-tonne communication satellites to Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit and up to eight tonnes of payload into Low Earth Orbit. Transitioning rocket production to private industry will enable India to meet growing commercial launch demand from global satellite constellation operators.
ISRO leadership stated that commercializing mature launch platforms will allow agency scientists and engineers to concentrate internal resources on advanced interplanetary research, space station development, and human spaceflight missions under the Gaganyaan program.
Aerospace manufacturing consortia and domestic defense contractors welcomed the initiative, which marks a significant milestone in expanding India’s commercial space manufacturing ecosystem.
The LVM3 launch vehicle consists of two solid rocket boosters, a core liquid propellant stage, and a cryogenic upper stage powered by the indigenous CE-20 engine. Transitioning full vehicle production to an industry consortium mirrors global commercial space models, where national agencies focus on exploration while certified private manufacturers manage commercial launch service operations for global communications satellites.
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