DRDO Successfully Tests ULPGM-V3 Missile in Air-to-Ground and Air-to-Air Modes

In a major boost to India’s indigenous defence capabilities and the government’s push for self-reliance in military technology, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has successfully completed the final deliverable configuration development trials of the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Launched Precision Guided Missile (ULPGM)-V3.

The advanced missile system was tested in both Air-to-Ground and Air-to-Air operational modes at the DRDO test range near Kurnool in Andhra Pradesh. Defence officials described the successful trials as a significant milestone in strengthening India’s precision strike capabilities for modern battlefield requirements.

Advanced Missile System Tested with Integrated Ground Control System

The development trials were conducted using an advanced integrated Ground Control System (GCS), which was used to command and control the ULPGM weapon system during operations.

According to DRDO, the Ground Control System incorporates state-of-the-art technologies that automate missile readiness, targeting and launch operations, enhancing operational efficiency and reducing response time during combat situations.

The trials validated the missile’s performance, accuracy and operational flexibility across multiple mission profiles.

Officials stated that the successful testing in both Air-to-Ground and Air-to-Air configurations demonstrates the missile’s capability to engage a wide range of battlefield threats with high precision.

ULPGM-V3 Designed for Multiple Combat Roles

The ULPGM-V3 missile has been developed as a versatile precision-guided weapon capable of operating against various aerial and ground-based targets.

The Air-to-Ground mode has been specifically designed for anti-tank operations, while the Air-to-Air mode is capable of targeting:

• Enemy drones

• Helicopters

• Low-flying airborne threats

• Other aerial platforms

Defence experts believe the system will significantly enhance the combat capabilities of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) by enabling them to conduct precision strikes in complex operational environments.

The missile’s lightweight design and compatibility with unmanned systems make it particularly suitable for future warfare scenarios where autonomous and remotely operated platforms are expected to play a major role.

Indigenous Development Through Indian Defence Ecosystem

The ULPGM-V3 missile has been developed under the leadership of Research Centre Imarat (RCI), Hyderabad, which served as the nodal DRDO laboratory for the project.

Several other DRDO laboratories also contributed to the development programme, including:

• Defence Research & Development Laboratory (DRDL), Hyderabad

• Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory (TBRL), Chandigarh

• High Energy Materials Research Laboratory (HEMRL), Pune

DRDO stated that the missile has been produced entirely through the Indian defence manufacturing ecosystem with contributions from numerous Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and domestic industries.

The successful trials confirmed the maturity of India’s domestic supply chain and its readiness for immediate serial mass production of the missile system.

Collaboration with Public and Private Defence Industry

For production and development of the missile system, DRDO partnered with two major defence production agencies:

• Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL), Hyderabad

• Adani Defence Systems & Technologies Limited, Hyderabad

The missile system has also been integrated with UAV platforms developed by Bengaluru-based Newspace Research and Technologies for the current phase of trials.

Officials noted that the collaboration between DRDO, public sector undertakings, private industry and MSMEs reflects the growing strength of India’s defence industrial base and the increasing participation of domestic companies in advanced military technology programmes.

Major Step Towards Aatmanirbharta in Defence

Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh congratulated DRDO, defence public sector units, production partners and industry stakeholders for the successful trials of the ULPGM-V3 missile system.

He described the achievement as a strategic milestone in India’s journey towards Aatmanirbharta (self-reliance) in defence manufacturing and technology development.

The Defence Minister particularly highlighted the successful Air-to-Ground anti-tank role and Air-to-Air operational capability against drones, helicopters and airborne targets.

Defence analysts believe the successful indigenous development of advanced missile systems will reduce dependence on foreign military imports while strengthening India’s capability to address evolving security threats.

DRDO Chairman Congratulates Scientific Teams

Secretary, Department of Defence Research and Development and Chairman DRDO, Dr. Samir V Kamat, also congratulated all scientists, engineers and industry partners associated with the programme.

He praised the teams for achieving a major technological breakthrough in precision-guided weapon systems and acknowledged the collective effort behind the successful completion of the trials.

Officials stated that the missile system is expected to significantly contribute to India’s future unmanned warfare capabilities and provide a strong technological foundation for next-generation UAV weapon platforms.

Strengthening India’s Future Warfare Capabilities

Modern military operations increasingly rely on unmanned systems, precision-guided weapons and network-centric warfare capabilities. The successful development of ULPGM-V3 positions India among countries capable of designing and producing advanced UAV-launched smart weapon systems indigenously.

Experts say such technologies are crucial for:

• Counter-drone warfare

• Precision strike missions

• Border security operations

• Tactical battlefield engagements

• High-risk combat scenarios

• Autonomous military operations

The successful trials also align with India’s broader defence modernization strategy focused on indigenous innovation, advanced defence manufacturing and export-oriented military production.

With the successful completion of developmental trials, the ULPGM-V3 system is expected to move closer towards operational induction and large-scale production for the Indian Armed Forces.