After Successful Test-firing from Quadcopter, DRDO's ULPGM V3 ATGM Now Getting Ready for Helicopters and Armed Drones

India's indigenous defence capabilities have taken a major leap forward with the successful test of a new lightweight anti-tank guided missile.

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has confirmed the successful trial of its third-generation Ultra-Light Precision Guided Munition (ULPGM V3), an advanced missile launched from a simple quadcopter drone.

Following this milestone, the missile, which currently has a range of 10 kilometres, is now being prepared for integration onto larger military aircraft, including attack helicopters and long-range unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

The ULPGM was initially designed as a low-cost, air-launched weapon capable of being fired from small, tactical drones.

During trials, it effectively demonstrated its ability to destroy armoured targets, such as Main Battle Tanks (MBTs) and Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs), using a specialised top-attack mode which targets the weakest part of a tank's armour.

Its lightweight design and affordability make it an ideal weapon for modern warfare, allowing for widespread use and potential saturation attacks against enemy formations without deploying more expensive, heavy-duty missiles.

To expand its use, the DRDO is developing a specialised pod system to mount the missiles on attack helicopters. This plan involves fitting a single pod with 8 to 12 ULPGM missiles.

An attack helicopter, such as India's indigenous HAL 'Prachand' or 'Rudra', could carry two such pods, enabling it to engage up to 24 separate targets in a single mission.

This massive increase in firepower would provide helicopter crews with greater flexibility to strike both armoured and unarmoured targets from a safe distance, a critical advantage in high-threat combat zones.

In addition to helicopters, the missile is being adapted for India's larger drone fleet.

The integration process is already underway for Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) and High Altitude Long Endurance (HALE) UAVs, such as the indigenously developed TAPAS-BH-201 and the recently acquired MQ-9B Predator drones.

Equipping these long-range drones with the ULPGM will allow the Indian Armed Forces to conduct precision strikes deep inside enemy territory, eliminating high-value targets without risking the lives of pilots.

Looking to the future, the DRDO is already working on an enhanced version of the ULPGM. This next variant is projected to have an extended strike range of up to 18 kilometres.

This significant upgrade will further increase the operational flexibility and standoff engagement capability of India's aerial platforms, reinforcing the nation's commitment to developing advanced, self-reliant defence technologies.

 

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[Mc Addy]

Yep, this is good if Qudracopted is AI enabled and can work in full Electronic jamming situation and can still target tanks or do assigned destruction with precision then this would be great, otherwise a simple drone maybe cheap but prone to electronic interference or other jamming situation will be useless as all are now acquiring multiple anti drone measure including lasers . So we need to build not simple or ,cheap but effective smart drone carrier for this missile that can go and do work in all sorts of contested airspaces otherwise no use as it won't reach target .

 

[Apocalypse gupta]

So many indigenous weapons, but barely any of them are in mass production. BrahMos, Astra Mk1, and maybe a few bombs are in mass production, but the rest are still in testing, limbo, or God knows where. Zero transparency. Every test is successful, but the weapon is still not in mass production.

 

[ryan]

So many indigenous weapons, but barely any of them are in mass production. BrahMos, Astra Mk1, and maybe a few bombs are in mass production, but the rest are still in testing, limbo, or God knows where. Zero transparency. Every test is successful, but the weapon is still not in mass production.

Just wait for a few more years... the majority of the platforms are on track.

 

[The Presence]

ULPGM will enter service earlier than Helina/SANT.

 

[tlsmani]

So many indigenous weapons, but barely any of them are in mass production. BrahMos, Astra Mk1, and maybe a few bombs are in mass production, but the rest are still in testing, limbo, or God knows where. Zero transparency. Every test is successful, but the weapon is still not in mass production.

Testing time from babud

 

[Parveen Gahlot]

That's good that we are testing new weapons, but some of them should go into production as well.

 

[Akshat]

So many indigenous weapons, but barely any of them are in mass production. BrahMos, Astra Mk1, and maybe a few bombs are in mass production, but the rest are still in testing, limbo, or God knows where. Zero transparency. Every test is successful, but the weapon is still not in mass production.

Every test is successful only according to DRDO. In reality everything is delayed by them. Remember PMO report? 60% of all delays are due to DRDO, and 40% by all other factors combined (vendor issues, requirement changes, funding delays, approval delays etc.).

 

[Phoenix Wilson]

India is now making significant progress when it comes to missiles and radars. However aircrafts still takes ages.

 

[Python]

Every test is successful only according to DRDO. In reality everything is delayed by them. Remember PMO report? 60% of all delays are due to DRDO, and 40% by all other factors combined (vendor issues, requirement changes, funding delays, approval delays etc.).

What does testing have to do with delays and those "statistics" you have given?Tests done by DRDO can be validated only by DRDO.

 

[Shiva Shankar]

Configuring all possible ones with UAVs of several categories is a technological step ahead to make indigenous solutions completely under their control command-operated systems. We are in a good direction.