The Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) has completed final trials of the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Launched Precision Guided Missile (ULPGM)-V3, as announced by the Ministry of Defence on 19 May 2026.
The tests, carried out at the DRDO test range near Kurnool in Andhra Pradesh, assessed the missile’s performance in both air-to-ground and air-to-air roles.
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During the trials, DRDO operated the ULPGM weapon system using an integrated Ground Control System (GCS). This GCS is equipped with technologies that automate the processes of preparing and launching the missile system.
For these evaluations, the missile system was mounted on uncrewed aerial vehicles developed by Newspace Research and Technologies, based in Bengaluru.
The trials have verified a “fully mature domestic supply chain”, ready to move towards serial mass production.
India’s Defence Minister, Rajnath Singh, commented on the achievement, stating, “a strategic milestone achieved towards Aatmanirbharta in Defence,” while commending DRDO, public sector units, defence production partners, and associated industries for the outcome.
DRDO chairman and Department of Defence R&D secretary Dr Samir V Kamat, also recognised the teams involved, saying, “for the commendable achievement.”
The ULPGM-V3 missile development was led by the Research Centre Imarat in Hyderabad along with DRDO laboratories such as Defence Research & Development Laboratory (DRDL) Hyderabad, Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory (TBRL) Chandigarh, and High Energy Materials Research Laboratory (HEMRL) Pune.
DRDO also worked with production partners Bharat Dynamics Limited and Adani Defence Systems & Technologies Limited, both located in Hyderabad, to advance the missile towards mass production.
The missile is manufactured entirely within India’s defence sector, including multiple MSMEs and industry suppliers, the MoD claim.
Recently, the DRDO announced the development of a modular guidance kit designed to improve accuracy for air-to-ground operations using low-cost gravity bombs.
This represents the first glide weapon to feature cost-effective advanced technologies, according to the organisation.
