Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh: India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has successfully concluded the development trials of the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Launched Precision Guided Missile-V3 (ULPGM-V3), marking a significant stride in the country’s indigenous unmanned combat capabilities.
The trials, conducted at the National Open Area Range near Kurnool in Andhra Pradesh, validated the missile’s performance in both air-to-ground and air-to-air modes. The ULPGM-V3, an advanced lightweight precision-guided munition designed for launch from UAV platforms, demonstrated its ability to engage a wide spectrum of targets, including armoured vehicles, drones, helicopters, and other high-value assets with pinpoint accuracy.
Led by the Research Centre Imarat (RCI) in Hyderabad, the programme leveraged collaborative efforts with multiple DRDO laboratories and Indian industry partners. The system features a high-definition dual-channel seeker that enables reliable day-and-night operations, offering enhanced target discrimination even in contested environments. This capability builds upon earlier successful tests conducted in July 2025 using a hexacopter UAV platform.
Defence analysts view the ULPGM-V3 as a critical enabler for India’s self-reliance in unmanned aerial combat systems. By integrating advanced guidance and miniaturised propulsion technologies, the missile allows operators to neutralise threats at standoff ranges without exposing manned aircraft or crew to risk. Its lightweight design makes it particularly suited for integration with a variety of UAVs in the Indian Armed Forces inventory.
The successful completion of development trials paves the way for serial production, with Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) expected to play a leading role in manufacturing the system. Once inducted, the ULPGM-V3 will substantially enhance the precision strike options available to Indian forces, particularly in high-altitude border areas and maritime domains.
This achievement aligns with India’s broader Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative in defence, reducing dependence on foreign munitions and strengthening the nation’s unmanned warfare ecosystem. DRDO officials have indicated that user trials with the armed services are likely to follow in the coming months.
contact: drrajeshjauhri@gmail.com
Dr Rajesh Jauhri is a Journalist with an experience of over 25 years in Indian and foreign media, a Social Scientist, an Ac-complished Author, a Political & Strategic Analyst, a Marksman (Rifle & Pistol), an Orator, a Thinker and an Educationist. He holds a Ph.D. degree on “Impact of colonial heritage on Indian police”. He runs an NGO dedicated to the social and eco-nomic uplift of tribal communities in MP and two decades back, he established a school in a village of Indore district, providing education and moral values to children belonging to underprivileged and minority families. Has received multiple awards in various fields.
