Key Highlights
- DRDO completed final developmental trials of the ULPGM‑V3, a missile launched from unmanned aerial platforms.
- The weapon can operate in both air‑to‑ground (anti‑tank) and air‑to‑air modes, engaging drones, helicopters and other aerial threats.
- Trials were performed at the Kurnool test range using an integrated Ground Control System that automates pre‑launch checks.
- The system results from a multi‑lab DRDO effort and a partnership with private firm NewSpace Research and Technologies, as well as production partners Bharat Dynamics Limited and Adani Defense.
- Successful validation reinforces India’s drive toward self‑reliance in high‑tech defence hardware.
Detailed Insights
The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) announced the culmination of the ULPGM‑V3’s development cycle after a series of flight‑tests at its Kurnool proving ground. The missile, engineered to be released from a variety of UAVs, demonstrates a dual‑role capability: it can strike armoured targets on the ground with precision‑guided warheads, and it can also intercept hostile aerial platforms, including enemy drones and helicopters, when configured for air‑to‑air engagement.
Key to the system’s performance is an advanced Ground Control System (GCS) that synchronises launch parameters, conducts automated health‑checks, and delivers real‑time guidance updates. This integration improves hit probability, shortens reaction time, and enhances overall mission efficiency on contemporary battlefields where rapid re‑targeting is essential.
The program reflects a collaborative ecosystem. Research Centre Imarat (RCI) led the design, while DRDL, TBRL and HEMRL contributed specialised expertise in propulsion, terminal ballistics and energetic materials. The airframe‑missile interface was realized with NewSpace Research and Technologies, a Bengaluru‑based private entity, underscoring the growing synergy between public research labs and indigenous industry. For serial production, DRDO has contracted Bharat Dynamics Limited and Adani Defence & Aerospace, and numerous MSMEs have supplied subsystems, completing a wholly domestic supply chain.
Key Concepts
- ULPGM‑V3: An indigenous precision-guided missile designed for launch from unmanned aerial vehicles, capable of both air‑to‑ground and air‑to‑air missions.
- Ground Control System (GCS): A computer‑based architecture that manages pre‑launch diagnostics, flight‑path programming and in‑flight updates to ensure accurate weapon delivery.
- Dual‑role capability: The ability of a single weapon system to perform effectively in two distinct combat roles, here referring to anti‑tank ground strikes and aerial threat interception.
- Multi‑lab collaboration: Joint development across several DRDO laboratories, each contributing unique technical expertise to create a unified weapon platform.