**Summary:**
The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully conducted flight trials of the Advanced Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Launched Precision Guided Missile ULPGMV3 at the National Open Area Range (NOAR) in Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh. This missile represents an enhanced version of the previously developed ULPGMV2. The ULPGMV3 features a high-definition dual-channel seeker, enabling it to engage diverse targets in both plain and high-altitude environments, with day-and-night operational capability. It also incorporates a two-way data link for post-launch target updates.
The missile is designed with three modular warhead options: Anti-armour (capable of defeating modern armored vehicles with Rolled Homogeneous Armour (RHA) and Explosive Reactive Armour (ERA)), Penetration-cum-Blast (for anti-bunker applications), and Pre-fragmentation (for high-lethality zones). The recent trials focused on the anti-armour configuration.
The ULPGMV3 was launched from an indigenously developed UAV by Newspace Research Technologies, a Bengaluru-based Indian startup. DRDO is actively working to integrate ULPGM weapons with long-range, high-endurance UAVs from other Indian companies. Development cum Production Partners (DcPPs) Adani Defence and Bharat Dynamics Limited, Hyderabad, along with 30 MSMEs/startups, contributed to the project.
Key DRDO laboratories involved in the development include Research Centre Imarat, Defence Research and Development Laboratory, Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory, High Energy Materials Research Laboratory, Integrated Test Range, and Defence Electronics Research Laboratory.
The Raksha Mantri and Chairman DRDO congratulated the involved teams, DcPPs, MSMEs, and startups on the successful trials, highlighting the Indian industry's growing capability to absorb and produce critical defence technologies.
Key Entities Referenced
Defence Research Development Organisation: India's premier defence research organization responsible for developing advanced defence technologies.
Advanced Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Launched Precision Guided MissileV3: An advanced missile system developed by DRDO, capable of being launched from an unmanned aerial vehicle with precision guidance.
Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh: Location of the National Open Area Range (NOAR) test range where flight trials were conducted.
Rajnath Singh: Raksha Mantri (Defence Minister) of India, who congratulated DRDO and industry partners on the successful trials.
Samir V Kamat: Secretary, Department of Defence RD and Chairman DRDO.
Newspace Research Technologies, Bengaluru: An Indian startup based in Bengaluru that indigenously developed the UAV used for missile launch.
Adani Defence: Development cum Production Partner (DcPP) that contributed to the ULPGMV3 project.
Bharat Dynamics Limited, Hyderabad: Development cum Production Partner (DcPP) that contributed to the ULPGMV3 project.
Ministry of Defence
DRDO conducts successful flight-trials of Advanced
Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Launched Precision
Guided Missile-V3
Posted On: 25 JUL 2025 2:47PM by PIB Delhi
In a major boost to India’s defence capabilities, Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) has
successfully carried out flight-trials of Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Launched Precision Guided Missile
(ULPGM)-V3 at the National Open Area Range (NOAR) test range in Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh. The missile
is an enhanced version of the ULPGM-V2 missile developed and delivered by DRDO earlier.
The ULPGM-V3 is equipped with a high definition dual-channel seeker that can strike a wide variety of
targets. It can be fired in plain and high-altitude areas. It has day-and-night capability and two-way data link
to support post-launch target/aim-point update. The missile is equipped with three modular warhead options:
Anti-armour to destroy modern age armoured vehicles equipped with Rolled Homogeneous Armour (RHA)
with Explosive Reactive Armour (ERA); Penetration-cum-Blast warhead with Anti Bunker application and
Pre-fragmentation warhead with a high lethality zone.
The missile is jointly developed by DRDO laboratories namely Research Centre Imarat, Defence Research
and Development Laboratory, Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory, High-Energy Materials Research
Laboratory, Integrated Test Range and Defence Electronics Research Laboratory. The present trials were
carried out for the Anti-armour configuration.
The missile was released from a UAV, which is indigenously developed by an Indian start-up - Newspace
Research Technologies, Bengaluru. DRDO is actively pursuing integration of ULPGM weapons with long-
range and high endurance UAVs from several other Indian companies. Development cum Production Partners
(DcPPs) - Adani Defence and Bharat Dynamics Limited, Hyderabad) and 30 MSMEs/start-ups contributed to
making this unique project a grand success.
Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh has congratulated DRDO and the industry partners, DcPPs, MSMEs and
start-ups for the development and successful trials of the ULPGM-V3 system. He termed the success as proofthat the Indian industry is now ready to absorb and produce critical defence technologies.
Secretary, Department of Defence R&D and Chairman DRDO Dr Samir V Kamat congratulated the teams,
DcPPs and start-ups and said that the development of such a weapon is the need of the hour.
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SR/Savvy
(Release ID: 2148320)