New Delhi, Jul 25 (PTI) The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) on Friday successfully test-fired a drone-launched precision-guided missile at a test range in Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh lauded the achievement, saying the flight trials mark a significant advancement in India’s defence capabilities. “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.
The ULPGM-V3 is an upgraded version of the ULPGM-V2 missile previously developed by the DRDO. The latest version features a high-definition dual-channel seeker capable of striking a wide range of targets in both plain and high-altitude regions.
With day-and-night operational capability and a two-way data link for post-launch target updates, the missile offers three modular warhead options, including an anti-armour warhead designed to destroy modern armoured vehicles with rolled homogeneous armour, and a “penetration-cum-blast” warhead for anti-bunker applications.
The test involved releasing the missile from an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) developed by Bengaluru-based start-up Newspace Research Technologies.
The DRDO is also collaborating with Indian defence companies such as Adani Defence, Bharat Dynamics Limited, and over 30 MSMEs and start-ups to integrate ULPGM weapons with long-range, high-endurance UAVs.