Drone-Fired Missile Boosts India's Military Strength Significantly
India Successfully Tests UAV Launched Precision Guided Missile (ULPGM)-V3
The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has made a significant stride in India's defence capabilities with the successful trial of the UAV Launched Precision Guided Missile (ULPGM)-V3 on July 25, 2025. The trial took place at the National Open Area Range (NOAR) in Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh.
The ULPGM-V3, an enhanced version of the ULPGM-V2 missile, was developed with the participation of DRDO and various industry partners, including Design and Production Planning Units (DcPPs), Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), and Start-ups.
This precision-guided missile, launched from Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), showcases India's evolution towards UAV-launched, extended-range munitions. The trial was a significant advancement, demonstrating the potential of UAV strike capabilities with precision, multi-target flexibility, and adaptability to complex battlefield conditions.
The ULPGM-V3 is equipped with several sophisticated enhancements. It features a high-definition dual-channel seeker, enabling the missile to strike a wide variety of targets with precision, enhancing guidance accuracy during varied mission profiles. The missile also supports post-launch target or aim-point updates, allowing real-time retargeting or corrections during flight, increasing flexibility and effectiveness in dynamic combat scenarios.
The ULPGM-V3 can be equipped with three types of warheads: an anti-armour warhead designed to defeat modern tanks and infantry combat vehicles, a penetration-cum-blast warhead with bunker-bursting capabilities, and a re-fragmentation warhead that creates a high lethality zone for area effects.
The missile weighs approximately 12.5 kg and is powered by a small dual-thrust solid propulsion unit, enabling a maximum range of about 4 km during daytime. This propulsion design supports a fire-and-forget capability, simplifying the UAV's operational load.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh congratulated the DRDO and industry partners on the successful trial, calling it a "major boost" to India's missile capabilities. He also stated that the success of the ULPGM-V3 trials proves that the Indian industry is now ready to absorb and produce critical Defence Technologies.
The ULPGM-V3 was developed by DRDO's Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory (TBRL), featuring multiple warhead configurations. The missile is part of the systems unveiled at Aero India 2025.
The choice of NOAR in Kurnool for the trial demonstrates DRDO's strategy of using the facility to validate cutting-edge technologies. In recent times, NOAR has hosted successful trials of high-energy laser-based Directed Energy Weapons (DEWs), including systems that neutralised fixed-wing UAVs and swarm drones.
The ULPGM-V3 trial is just one example of India's ongoing efforts to strengthen its defence capabilities. The country continues to invest in research and development, aiming to create indigenous technologies that can meet its defence needs and contribute to global security.
The successful trial of the UAV Launched Precision Guided Missile (ULPGM)-V3 signifies India's progress in integrating technology within sports applications, as swarm drones eliminated during DEWs trials could potentially be replaced by UAVs in the future.
This UAV-launched missile, with its advanced features and multiple warhead configurations, could revolutionize sports events, showcasing the potential of precision-guided munitions for target practice or deriving real-time data analytics, expanding the realm of professional sports.
