Blitz Bureau
NEW DELHI: In a significant boost to India’s indigenous defence capabilities, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) on July 25 successfully carried out flight trials of the UAV-Launched Precision Guided Missile (ULPGM)-V3 at the National Open Area Range (NOAR) in Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh. Announcing the achievement on social media platform X, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh wrote:
“In a major boost to India’s defence capabilities, @DRDO_India has successfully carried out flight trials of UAV Launched Precision Guided Missile (ULPGM)-V3 in the National Open Area Range (NOAR), test range in Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh. Congratulations to DRDO and the industry partners, DcPPs, MSMEs and Start-ups for the development and successful trials of the ULPGM-V3 system. This success proves that the Indian industry is now ready to absorb and produce critical Defence Technologies.”
While detailed specifications of the ULPGM-V3 remain classified, its development is part of a clear technological trajectory in India’s guided missile programme.
Earlier, ULPGM-V2 was developed by DRDO’s Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory (TBRL), featuring multiple warhead configurations. The evolution toward UAV-launched, extended-range munitions, unveiled at Aero India 2025, includes sophisticated enhancements such as imaging infrared (IIR) seekers and dual-thrust propulsion systems, features likely present in the V3 variant.
The successful test reflects India’s growing focus on unmanned precision strike capabilities, a key area in modern warfare strategy. ULPGM systems are designed to be lightweight, precise, and compatible with various aerial platforms, providing strategic flexibility in combat environments.
