ULPGM-V3: DRDO successfully test-fires drone-launched precision missile

New Delhi: In a significant stride toward enhancing India's strike capabilities, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has successfully test-fired a drone-launched precision-guided missile in Andhra Pradesh.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh confirmed the development on Friday, stating that the flight trials were conducted at the National Open Area Range (NOAR) in Kurnool.

"In a major boost to India's defence capabilities, @DRDO_India has successfully carried out flight trials of UAV Launched Precision Guided Missile (ULPGM)-V3 in the National Open Area Range (NOAR), test range in Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh," Singh posted on social media.

According to media reports, ULPGM has 3 versions: ULPGM V1, V2 & V3.

The missile, known as ULPGM-V3, is designed for high-precision strikes from unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and is part of India’s push towards integrating advanced indigenous technologies into its defence arsenal.

Meanwhile, DRDO’s Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory (TBRL) has developed multiple warhead variants for the ULPGM-V2 version, each tailored for different battlefield roles:

Anti-Personnel Warhead: A blast-cum-fragmentation type, designed to neutralize troops and soft-skinned vehicles using pre-formed hardened steel balls.

Roof Buster Warhead: An explosively formed projectile (EFP) aimed at penetrating RCC roofs and neutralizing enclosed soft targets.

Anti-Armour/Anti-Tank Warhead: A conical shaped charge designed to destroy heavily armoured vehicles and main battle tanks (MBTs) in top-attack mode.