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

The Defence Research and Development Organisation completed the final deliverable configuration development trials of the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Launched Pr...

What Happened

The Defence Research and Development Organisation completed the final deliverable configuration development trials of the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Launched Precision Guided Missile (ULPGM)-V3 at its test range near Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh on May 18–19, 2026.
The missile was successfully validated in both Air-to-Ground mode (anti-tank strike capability against surface targets) and Air-to-Air mode (engagement against drones, helicopters, and other airborne threats).
Two production partner agencies — Bharat Dynamics Limited (Hyderabad) and Adani Defence Systems & Technologies Limited (Hyderabad) — are designated to manufacture the weapon system, with trials confirming a fully mature domestic supply chain capable of immediate serial production.
The system is designed for launch from tactical and high-endurance UAV platforms, making India one of a select group of nations with an indigenously developed drone-launched precision strike capability.
Official sources described the development as a significant milestone under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative in the defence sector.

Static Topic Bridges

ULPGM-V3 — Technical Profile

The ULPGM-V3 (also known as ULM-ER: Unmanned Launch Munition-Extended Range) is a lightweight, fire-and-forget precision-guided missile developed indigenously by DRDO. It is designed specifically to be carried and launched by unmanned aerial vehicles, giving tactical drones a lethal strike capability beyond reconnaissance.

Weight: Approximately 12.5 kg — optimised for carriage on tactical UAV platforms
Range: Maximum operational strike range extended to 10 km (standoff precision engagement); 4 km effective in daytime, 2.5 km at night
Guidance: High-definition dual-channel Imaging Infrared (IIR) passive seeker combined with laser guidance, enabling all-weather, day-and-night precision tracking
Modes: Air-to-Ground (anti-armour, surface targets) and Air-to-Air (counter-drone, counter-helicopter)
Production Partners: Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) and Adani Defence & Aerospace under the Development cum Production Partner programme

Connection to this news: These trials mark the completion of the full development cycle, clearing the missile for serial production and induction into the armed forces.

iDEX and the ADITI Scheme

The Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) programme was launched in 2018 under the Department of Defence Production to provide financial and institutional support to startups, MSMEs, and individual innovators working on cutting-edge defence technologies. It operates through Defence India Startup Challenges (DISC) and provides grants up to ₹1.5 crore under the SPARK framework.

The ADITI (Acing Development of Innovative Technologies with iDEX) scheme is a sub-scheme within iDEX, launched in March 2024 with an outlay of ₹750 crore over three years (2023–24 to 2025–26). ADITI targets 30 deep-tech, critical and strategic defence technologies spanning artificial intelligence, quantum computing, cyber-technology, satellite communication, semiconductors, autonomous weapons systems, and underwater surveillance. Grants of up to ₹25 crore per project are available to selected innovators. The government allocated approximately ₹449.62 crore to iDEX and ADITI for FY 2025–26.

Connection to this news: The ULPGM-V3 programme reflects the broader Aatmanirbhar Bharat defence ecosystem within which ADITI-funded innovations operate — the same philosophy of reducing import dependence and building domestic supply chains for critical weapon systems.

Aatmanirbhar Bharat in Defence

The Aatmanirbhar Bharat (Self-Reliant India) initiative, announced in May 2020, included a dedicated push in the defence sector to reduce India's heavy dependence on imported military equipment. Key measures include: a Positive Indigenisation List that bans imports of specified weapons after a notified deadline; increased Foreign Direct Investment limits in defence manufacturing (up to 74% via automatic route, 100% via government route); the establishment of two dedicated defence corridors (Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu); and mandated domestic procurement budgets.

India has historically been among the world's largest arms importers, spending over $4 billion annually on foreign procurement.
As of early 2025, iDEX has issued over 549 problem statements, engaged 619 startups/MSMEs, and awarded 430 contracts worth over ₹2,400 crore in procurement.
BDL is a Navratna defence PSU under the Ministry of Defence, a primary manufacturer of guided weapons and underwater systems.

Connection to this news: The ULPGM-V3 entering serial production through two domestic manufacturers represents a direct realisation of Aatmanirbhar Bharat goals in the advanced munitions sector.

UAV Warfare: Evolution from Surveillance to Strike

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) or drones were initially deployed primarily for Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) roles — giving commanders persistent eyes over a battlefield without risking human pilots. The shift from "eyes in the sky" to strike platforms began with armed MALE (Medium Altitude Long Endurance) drones such as the American MQ-1 Predator and MQ-9 Reaper, which could carry Hellfire missiles over prolonged missions.

The Ukraine-Russia conflict (2022 onwards) and Israel-Gaza conflict (2023 onwards) accelerated a further evolution: cheap, attritable drones carrying small precision munitions — effectively turning any drone into a missile-launching platform. Loitering munitions (kamikaze drones) blur the line between drone and guided missile entirely.

MALE Drones: Medium Altitude Long Endurance — operate at 10,000–30,000 ft, endurance of 12–40 hours; examples include MQ-9 Reaper (US), Bayraktar TB2 (Turkey), Heron (Israel), Rustom-2 (India, under development).
Loitering Munitions: Also called "suicide drones" — circle a target area and dive-strike on detection; India's Nagastra-1 (by Solar Industries) is the first indigenously manufactured loitering munition cleared for Army induction.
Counter-UAS systems: With drone proliferation, counter-drone capabilities (hard-kill and soft-kill) have become equally critical.

Connection to this news: The ULPGM-V3's Air-to-Air mode — designed to intercept drones and helicopters — directly addresses the counter-UAS mission, while its Air-to-Ground mode extends the precision strike reach of Indian tactical UAV platforms.

Key Facts & Data

System name: ULPGM-V3 / ULM-ER (Unmanned Launch Munition-Extended Range)
Developer: DRDO (Defence Research and Development Organisation)
Test location: DRDO test range, Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh
Test dates: May 18–19, 2026
Modes validated: Air-to-Ground and Air-to-Air
Weight: ~12.5 kg
Range: Up to 10 km (standoff); 4 km effective daytime, 2.5 km night
Guidance: Dual-channel IIR passive seeker + laser guidance (all-weather, day/night)
Production partners: Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) and Adani Defence Systems & Technologies Limited, both Hyderabad
Programme framework: Aatmanirbhar Bharat; Development cum Production Partner programme
ADITI scheme outlay: ₹750 crore (2023–24 to 2025–26); grants up to ₹25 crore per project
iDEX cumulative contracts (early 2025): 430 contracts worth ₹2,400+ crore
India drone startups: 600+ companies, $500 million+ in funding raised collectively