ULPGM-V3 Drone-Launched Missile Tested at Kurnool
Why in the news
India flight-tested ULPGM-V3, a missile fired from drones, at the NOAR test range in Kurnool, boosting indigenous drone warfare capability.
Key facts
- Also called: ULM-ER (Extended Range); an air-to-surface precision missile launched from UAVs, able to hit static and mobile targets with little collateral damage.
- Developer: DRDO, with Bharat Dynamics Ltd., Adani Defence, MSMEs and start-ups under Make in India.
- Purpose: precise autonomous drone strikes, lowering reliance on manned combat aircraft.
| Feature | ULPGM-V3 detail |
|---|---|
| Seeker | Imaging Infrared (IIR), fire-and-forget, all-weather day-night |
| Range | Up to 4 km (day), 2.5 km (night); dual-thrust solid propulsion |
| Datalink | Two-way, for mid-course updates |
| Warhead | Anti-tank, bunker-busting or anti-personnel |
| Weight | 12.5 kg |
| Carrier UAVs | Rustom, TAPAS-BH and other MALE UAVs |
Exam angle
- Test site: NOAR, Kurnool; developer: DRDO; variants: V1, V2, V3.