In a significant advancement for India's indigenous defence capabilities, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has successfully concluded the final development trials of the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Launched Precision Guided Missile (ULPGM)-V3. The trials were conducted in both Air-to-Ground and Air-to-Air modes at the DRDO test range near Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh.
Final Configuration Testing
The trials represented the final deliverable configuration testing of the missile system. They were carried out using an integrated Ground Control System (GCS) designed to command and control the ULPGM weapon platform. According to DRDO, the GCS incorporates advanced technologies to automate readiness and launch operations.
Development and Collaboration
The ULPGM-V3 has been developed by Research Centre Imarat (RCI), Hyderabad, as the nodal laboratory, in collaboration with other DRDO facilities including the Defence Research & Development Laboratory (DRDL), Hyderabad; Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory (TBRL), Chandigarh; and High Energy Materials Research Laboratory (HEMRL), Pune. DRDO partnered with Bharat Dynamics Limited and Adani Defence Systems & Technologies Limited for the missile's development and production. The missile system was integrated onto UAV platforms developed by Newspace Research and Technologies, Bengaluru, for the current trials.
Domestic Supply Chain
Officials confirmed that the missile was produced entirely through India's domestic defence ecosystem, involving MSMEs and private industries. The successful trials also confirmed what DRDO described as a “fully mature domestic supply chain” capable of supporting immediate serial mass production.
Strategic Milestone
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh congratulated DRDO, public sector units, defence production partners, and industry stakeholders for the successful trials. He described the achievement as “a strategic milestone achieved towards Aatmanirbharta in Defence.”
Operational Capabilities
According to the defence ministry, the ULPGM-V3 demonstrated anti-tank strike capability in Air-to-Ground mode and was also tested against drones, helicopters, and airborne targets in Air-to-Air mode. DRDO Chairman and Secretary, Department of Defence R&D, Samir V Kamat also congratulated the teams associated with the trials for the successful achievement.
