New Delhi, June 20 -- Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has secured the rights to manufacture India's Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV), marking a major milestone in the government's drive to open up the space sector to private enterprise. The announcement was made on Friday by the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Center (IN-SPACe).

HAL emerged as the winning bidder for the strategic transfer of SSLV technology from the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), placing a successful bid of Rs.511 crore.

Under the deal, HAL not only acquires the rights to manufacture the SSLV but also gains ownership and commercialisation privileges-allowing it to conduct SSLV launches for domestic and global clients.

The SSLV is ...