Date: 2026-05-19Category: Press ReleaseState: Union GovernmentCountry: India
Major boost to Aatmanirbhar Bharat: DRDO completes development trials of Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Launched Precision Guided Missile-V3 in Air-to-Ground & Air-to-Air modes
**Executive Summary**
On 19 May 2026, the Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully completed the final development trials for the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Launched Precision Guided Missile (ULPGM)-V3. Conducted at the Kurnool test range in Andhra Pradesh, the trials validated the missile’s performance in Air-to-Ground and Air-to-Air modes using an integrated Ground Control System. This milestone confirms the maturity of the domestic supply chain and its readiness for immediate serial mass production.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Technical Achievements and Capabilities**
* Successful completion of development trials for ULPGM-V3 in both Air-to-Ground (anti-tank) and Air-to-Air (targeting drones, helicopters, and airborne objects) modes.
* Deployment of an integrated Ground Control System (GCS) featuring advanced technologies to automate readiness and launch operations.
* Successful integration of the weapon system onto UAVs developed by Newspace Research and Technologies.
**Collaborative Development Framework**
* The Research Centre Imarat (RCI), Hyderabad, served as the nodal laboratory for development.
* Technical collaboration involved multiple DRDO laboratories, including DRDL (Hyderabad), TBRL (Chandigarh), and HEMRL (Pune).
* Production partnerships have been established with Bharat Dynamics Limited and Adani Defence Systems & Technologies Limited.
**Strategic and Industrial Impact**
* The missile was produced entirely within the Indian defense ecosystem, involving a significant number of MSMEs and private industries.
* Trials confirmed a fully mature domestic supply chain capable of supporting immediate mass production.
* The project is recognized as a strategic milestone in achieving "Aatmanirbharta" (self-reliance) in the defense sector.
**Impact Analysis**
**DRDO and Associated Research Laboratories**
**Impact**
Successful validation of the final deliverable configuration of the ULPGM-V3 and its automated command and control systems.
**Action Required**
Finalize technical handovers to production agencies to facilitate the transition from development to manufacturing.
**Production Agencies (Bharat Dynamics Limited & Adani Defence)**
**Impact**
Confirmed as the primary production partners for the missile system within a validated domestic supply chain.
**Action Required**
Commence immediate serial mass production of the ULPGM-V3 system to meet defense requirements.
**Indian Defence Industry and MSMEs**
**Impact**
Increased engagement and integration into the high-technology defense manufacturing sector.
**Action Required**
Scale up manufacturing capabilities to support the mass production phase and maintain the integrity of the domestic supply chain.
**Indian Armed Forces (Strategic End-Users)**
**Impact**
Acquisition of a versatile, domestically produced precision-guided missile system for multi-role UAV operations.
**Action Required**
Prepare for the induction of the ULPGM-V3 into operational service for anti-tank and aerial target engagements.
Key Entities Referenced
Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Launched Precision Guided Missile-V3 (ULPGM-V3): An indigenously developed weapon system successfully tested in Air-to-Ground and Air-to-Air modes for anti-tank and airborne target roles.
Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO): The primary agency responsible for the design, configuration development trials, and testing of the ULPGM-V3 missile system.
Aatmanirbhar Bharat: The national initiative for self-reliance in defence under which this missile development is classified as a strategic milestone.
Research Centre Imarat (RCI): The nodal DRDO laboratory in Hyderabad responsible for the development of the ULPGM-V3 missile.
Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL): A key production agency partnered with DRDO for the development and serial mass production of the missile system.
Ministry of Defence
Major boost to Aatmanirbhar Bharat: DRDO
completes development trials of Unmanned
Aerial Vehicle Launched Precision Guided
Missile-V3 in Air-to-Ground & Air-to-Air modes
Posted On: 19 MAY 2026 9:50PM by PIB Delhi
Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) has successfully completed the final deliverable
configuration development trials of Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Launched Precision Guided Missile
(ULPGM)-V3 in Air-to-Ground and Air-to-Air modes at DRDO test range near Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh.
The trials were carried out using an integrated Ground Control System (GCS) to command and control the
ULPGM weapon system. The GCS features state-of-the-art technologies to automate readiness and launch
operations.DRDO has partnered with two production agencies - Bharat Dynamics Limited, Hyderabad and Adani
Defence Systems & Technologies Limited, Hyderabad - for the development and production of the
missiles. The system has been integrated on UAVs developed by Newspace Research and Technologies,
Bengaluru for current trials.
The ULPGM missile has been developed by Research Centre Imarat, Hyderabad as the nodal lab along
with other DRDO laboratories namely Defence Research & Development Laboratory (DRDL) Hyderabad,
Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory (TBRL), Chandigarh and High Energy Materials Research
Laboratory (HEMRL), Pune.
The missile has been produced entirely through the Indian defence ecosystem involving a large number of
MSMEs and other industries. The trials confirmed fully mature domestic supply chain, equipped for
immediate serial mass production.
Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh has complimented DRDO, PSUs, Defence cum Production Partners
and industry for the successful development trials of ULPGM-V3 in Air-to-Ground mode for anti-tank
role and Air-to-Air modes for Drone, Helicopter and other airborne targets. He termed it a strategic
milestone achieved towards Aatmanirbharta in Defence.
Secretary, Department of Defence R&D and Chairman DRDO Dr Samir V Kamat congratulated all the
teams associated with the trials for the commendable achievement.
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VK/Savvy
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