DRDO Successfully Test-Fires ULPGM-V3: A Leap in India’s Drone-Launched Missile Technology

— by vishal Sambyal

DRDO successfully test-fires the ULPGM-V3, a drone-launched precision missile featuring modular warheads and dual-channel targeting, enhancing India’s UAV-based strike capabilities.

Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh | July 31, 2025 — In a landmark demonstration of India’s growing unmanned warfare capabilities, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has successfully test-fired the third-generation version of its UAV-Launched Precision Guided Missile (ULPGM-V3). The advanced missile was launched from a drone developed by Bengaluru-based startup Newspace Research Technologies during flight trials at the National Open Area Range (NOAR) in Kurnool on July 25.

A New Era in Precision Strike Capabilities

This latest test marks a significant milestone in India’s indigenous defense development efforts, positioning the country among a select group of nations mastering high-precision drone-based missile systems. The ULPGM-V3 is a leap over its predecessor, the ULPGM-V2, with enhanced seeker technology, modular warheads, and day-and-night operability. Designed for flexibility in diverse terrain—including plains and high altitudes—it represents a major step toward a fully integrated unmanned combat ecosystem.

ULPGM-V3: What Sets It Apart?

Developed jointly by several DRDO laboratories, including Research Centre Imarat, Defence Research and Development Laboratory, and Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory, the ULPGM-V3 is built for high-precision strikes against armored and fortified targets. Key features include:

  • Dual-Channel Seeker: Provides real-time imaging and infrared tracking, ensuring high accuracy against static and moving targets.
  • Two-Way Data Link: Enables post-launch updates, allowing dynamic target engagement even after the missile is in flight.
  • Day-Night Capability: Operable in all weather and lighting conditions.
  • Terrain Versatility: Effective in plains as well as mountainous regions.
  • Three Modular Warheads:
    • Anti-Armour Warhead: Defeats advanced armor including Explosive Reactive Armour (ERA).
    • Penetration-cum-Blast Warhead: Ideal for bunkers and fortified structures.
    • Pre-Fragmentation Warhead: Creates a wide lethality zone for anti-personnel use.

The missile’s deployment from a drone—rather than from ground or manned aircraft platforms—further underscores India’s pivot toward high-endurance, remotely operated combat systems.

An Indigenous Breakthrough in Collaboration

This achievement is not just a win for DRDO but for India’s larger defense industrial ecosystem. In addition to Newspace Research Technologies, the missile system’s development saw critical contributions from major industry players like Adani Defence and Bharat Dynamics Limited, as well as 30 MSMEs and startups across India. This collaborative model aligns with the Indian government’s vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India), particularly in the defense manufacturing sector.

“The ULPGM-V3 program exemplifies the spirit of collaborative innovation,” a DRDO spokesperson noted. “Startups and established players have co-developed a solution that addresses both tactical needs and strategic deterrence.”

Military Analysts Applaud Strategic Advancement

Defense experts believe this development could dramatically reshape India’s counter-insurgency and cross-border precision engagement capabilities.

“ULPGM-V3’s versatility and accuracy make it ideal for pre-emptive or retaliatory strikes in high-risk zones like the Line of Actual Control or in anti-terror operations,” said Lt. Gen. (Retd.) D.S. Hooda, former Northern Army Commander. “It allows the Indian military to neutralize threats with minimal risk to personnel, especially in hostile terrains.”

Others emphasize its export potential. With geopolitical interest rising in cost-effective, high-precision drone warfare tools, India’s ULPGM-V3 could see interest from friendly foreign nations looking for non-Western alternatives.

Strategic Implications: What Comes Next?

The ULPGM-V3’s successful test-fire adds momentum to India’s unmanned warfare roadmap. DRDO is now actively working to integrate the missile with long-range, high-endurance UAVs under development by multiple Indian companies. Once field-deployable, these systems could significantly boost the Indian Armed Forces’ stand-off strike capabilities, enhancing both border security and operational flexibility in conflict-prone zones.

Further refinements, including AI-enhanced targeting and swarm integration, are reportedly under exploration. The modular design also opens pathways for tailored exports, positioning India as a defense innovator in the global arms market.

Conclusion: India’s Drone Arsenal Enters a New Phase

The successful test of the ULPGM-V3 is more than a technological milestone—it’s a statement of India’s strategic intent to lead in the future of warfare. As global militaries lean toward unmanned systems for cost-effective and low-risk operations, India’s homegrown solutions like ULPGM-V3 reflect not only scientific prowess but also geopolitical readiness.

This breakthrough, achieved through government-industry collaboration, heralds a new chapter in India’s defense evolution—one where drones don’t just survey, but strike with precision and purpose.

Disclaimer: This article is based on publicly available information from official DRDO announcements and defense industry sources as of July 31, 2025. Specifications and operational capabilities mentioned are subject to future updates.