DRDO Completes Final Development Trials of ULPGM-V3; India's First Indigenous UAV-Launched Dual-Mode Missile Ready for Mass Production | Current Affairs

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully completed the final development trials of the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Launched Precision Guided Missile (ULPGM)-V3 on 18 and 19 May 2026 at the National Open Area Range (NOAR) near Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh. The trials were conducted in both air-to-ground and air-to-air combat modes. In air-to-ground mode, the missile demonstrated anti-tank strike capability against designated land targets with high precision. In air-to-air mode, it successfully intercepted simulated drones, helicopters, and other airborne threats — making ULPGM-V3 one of the very few indigenous missile systems in India capable of engaging both ground and aerial targets from an unmanned platform. An integrated Ground Control System (GCS) featuring automated readiness and launch operations was used throughout. DRDO confirmed the trials established a fully mature domestic supply chain ready for immediate serial mass production. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh called it a strategic milestone in India's journey toward Aatmanirbharta in defence.

Background: The ULPGM-V3, also referred to as ULM-ER (Unmanned Launch Munition — Extended Range), is an upgraded version of the earlier ULPGM-V2 missile. It was developed by Research Centre Imarat (RCI) in Hyderabad as the nodal laboratory, with support from DRDL (Hyderabad), TBRL (Chandigarh), and HEMRL (Pune). The missile features passive homing using an imaging infrared (IIR) seeker, enabling precision engagement in both day and night conditions. DRDO partnered with Bharat Dynamics Limited and Adani Defence Systems & Technologies Limited for production, and with Newspace Research and Technologies (Bengaluru) for integration with UAV platforms.

Key Points to Remember:

Missile: ULPGM-V3 (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Launched Precision Guided Missile — Version 3)
Also known as: ULM-ER (Unmanned Launch Munition — Extended Range)
Trials completed: 18–19 May 2026
Test location: NOAR (National Open Area Range), Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh
Trial modes: Air-to-ground (anti-tank) and air-to-air (anti-drone/helicopter)
Nodal lab: Research Centre Imarat (RCI), Hyderabad
Supporting labs: DRDL (Hyderabad), TBRL (Chandigarh), HEMRL (Pune)
Production partners: Bharat Dynamics Limited; Adani Defence Systems & Technologies Limited
UAV integration: Newspace Research and Technologies, Bengaluru
Seeker: Imaging Infrared (IIR) — day and night capable
Significance: Ready for serial mass production; dual-mode capability
Defence Minister's remark: Called it a milestone toward Aatmanirbharta in defence
Announced by: Ministry of Defence on 19 May 2026

Related Static GK:

DRDO full form: Defence Research and Development Organisation
DRDO headquarters: New Delhi; under Ministry of Defence
DRDO established: 1958
RCI full form: Research Centre Imarat (Hyderabad) — specialises in missile guidance systems
Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL): PSU under Ministry of Defence; headquartered in Hyderabad
Aatmanirbhar Bharat in Defence: India's capital acquisition budget reserves 75% for domestic procurement
India's Defence Budget 2026–27: ₹7.85 lakh crore (15% increase over previous year)
NOAR full form: National Open Area Range