Flight trials of UAV-Launched Precision Guided Missile (ULPGM) V3 being carried out by the DRDO at the National Open Area Range (NOAR) in Kurnool.
In a remarkable push to India’s drone warfare capabilities, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) on Friday successfully test‑fired an indigenously developed UAV‑Launched Precision‑Guided Missile (ULPGM‑V3) at the National Open Area Range (NOAR) near Palakolanu in Orvakal mandal, Kurnool district.
Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh announced the achievement on X, sharing a photograph from the test site. He lauded DRDO scientists, MSMEs, and start‑ups involved in the project, stating, “This proves India’s ability to master complex technologies and produce world‑class systems indigenously.”
The missile, designed to neutralise fixed‑wing unmanned aerial targets with high accuracy, works on a fire‑and‑forget principle and is seen as a decisive step in next‑generation combat readiness. Developed on the earlier ULPGM‑V2 platform, the V3 variant underscores India’s push for cost‑effective, precision weapons.
The NOAR test range, spread over 2,200 acres, is one of DRDO’s most advanced facilities. It has been the site of trials of cutting‑edge systems, including directed-energy weapons.
Responding to the development, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu tweeted: “It is a proud moment that our State contributes to India’s defence strength. The ULPGM‑V3 success reflects the true spirit of Aatmanirbhar Bharat.”
Officials said the weapon will significantly sharpen India’s drone combat strategy.
Published – July 25, 2025 07:49 pm IST
