DRDO completes final trials of ULPGM-V3 precision missile near Kurnool

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has completed the final deliverable configuration development trials of the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Launched Precision Guided Missile (ULPGM)-V3 in air-to-ground and air-to-air modes at the 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 technologies to automate readiness and launch operations.

This development takes forward the State and Union governments’ idea of making Andhra Pradesh one of the defence manufacturing hubs in the country. Recently, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh took part in the ground-breaking ceremony for an Aircraft Integration and Flight Testing Complex by the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA), under DRDO, with an assured investment of ₹15,803 crore in Satya Sai district.

This apart, a number of PSUs and private firms such as Bharat Dynamics Limited, Kalyani Strategic Systems (Bharat Forge), Sagar Defence Engineering, HFCL and others are coming with their different array of defence products. Mr. Naidu has already reiterated a number of times that he would make Anantapur one of the biggest defence hubs in the country, assuring both big investments and employment.

For the ULPGM-V3 project, 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 and 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 a fully mature domestic supply chain, equipped for immediate serial mass production.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has complimented DRDO, PSUs, Defence cum Production Partners and industry for the 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.

Samir V. Kamat, Secretary, Department of Defence Research and Development, and DRDO Chairman, congratulated all the teams associated with the trials.