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

📌 Summary:

• DRDO successfully completed the final deliverable-configuration development trials of the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Launched Precision Guided Missile (ULPGM)-V3 in both Air-to-Ground and Air-to-Air modes at a DRDO test range near Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh.

• The trials used an integrated Ground Control System (GCS) to command and control the weapon system, featuring technologies that automate launch readiness.

• The Air-to-Ground mode was validated for the anti-tank role, while the Air-to-Air mode was validated for engaging drones, helicopters and other airborne targets.

• The missile was developed by Research Centre Imarat, Hyderabad as the nodal lab, along with DRDL Hyderabad, TBRL Chandigarh and HEMRL Pune; it was integrated on UAVs developed by Newspace Research and Technologies, Bengaluru.

• Production partners are Bharat Dynamics Limited and Adani Defence Systems and Technologies; the missile was produced entirely through India's defence ecosystem involving a large number of MSMEs, confirming a mature domestic supply chain ready for serial mass production.

• Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh termed it a strategic milestone towards Aatmanirbharta (self-reliance) in defence.

🎯 UPSC Relevance: GS3 — Science and Technology; indigenisation of defence technology and Aatmanirbhar Bharat in defence manufacturing.

📝 Prelims Facts:

• ULPGM-V3 is a UAV-launched precision guided missile; trials were held at a DRDO test range near Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh.

• The nodal lab is Research Centre Imarat (RCI), Hyderabad.

• Production agencies are Bharat Dynamics Limited and Adani Defence Systems and Technologies Limited.

🔑 Key Term: ULPGM — Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Launched Precision Guided Missile, a drone-launched guided missile usable in both anti-tank (air-to-ground) and counter-air (air-to-air) roles.