DRDO Successfully Tests UAV-Launched Precision Guided Missile (ULPGM-V3)

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully completed the final development trials of the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Launched Precision Guided Missile (ULPGM)-V3. Tested near Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh, the missile demonstrated both Air-to-Ground (anti-tank) and Air-to-Air (anti-drone/helicopter) capabilities. Powered by a fully indigenous supply chain involving private players like BDL and Adani Defence, the successful trial paves the way for immediate mass serial production, marking a major milestone for India's Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative in modern warfare.

What Happened

DRDO successfully conducted the final deliverable configuration trials of the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Launched Precision Guided Missile (ULPGM)-V3. The system was tested in two distinct modes: Air-to-Ground to destroy tanks, and Air-to-Air to neutralise hostile drones and helicopters. The trials confirmed the accuracy of the Ground Control System (GCS) and validated the readiness of the domestic supply chain for immediate mass production.

When & Where

The trials took place on 19 May 2026 at the DRDO test firing range located near Kurnool in Andhra Pradesh. This test range is frequently used for validating short-range and tactical missile systems before they are handed over to the armed forces.

Who Is Involved

DRDO (Research Centre Imarat - RCI): Nodal laboratory responsible for the core development of the missile.
Other DRDO Labs: DRDL (Hyderabad), TBRL (Chandigarh), and HEMRL (Pune) assisted in propulsion and warhead design.
Production Agencies: Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) and Adani Defence Systems & Technologies Limited.
UAV Provider: Newspace Research and Technologies (Bengaluru) provided the drone platform for missile integration.
Ministry of Defence: Overseeing the project under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat framework.

How It Works

Target Identification: The UAV patrols a designated sector and uses its onboard sensors to identify hostile targets like tanks or enemy drones.
Automated Tracking: The integrated Ground Control System (GCS) locks onto the target and automates the launch readiness sequence.
Launch Command: The GCS operator issues the final command, firing the ULPGM-V3 in either an air-to-air or air-to-ground trajectory.
Precision Strike: The missile uses its internal guidance systems to adjust its flight path mid-air, ensuring pinpoint accuracy and minimising collateral damage.

Why It Matters

This development is highly relevant for UPSC GS Paper 3 (Indigenisation of Technology and Security). Modern warfare heavily relies on drones and smart munitions. By developing the ULPGM-V3 locally, India reduces its reliance on expensive foreign imports like the US Hellfire or Israeli Spike missiles. It also integrates MSMEs into the defence sector, generating economic growth and technological self-reliance.

Historical Background

1983: India launched the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP) to build domestic missile capability.
2020: The government announced negative import lists to ban the import of specific weapons, forcing the development of indigenous alternatives.
2022: DRDO successfully tested the HELINA (Helicopter-launched Nag) anti-tank missile, laying the groundwork for miniaturised, air-launched munitions like the ULPGM.

Previous Related Events

2023: DRDO showcased early prototypes of micro-munitions designed specifically for drone deployment.
2024: The Indian military inducted Hermes 900 Starliner drones to boost Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition, and Reconnaissance (ISTAR) capabilities.
2025: Successful tests of indigenous loitering munitions (kamikaze drones) like Nagastra-1 were conducted, strengthening tactical drone warfare.

Static GK Connection

Precision Guided Munitions (PGMs): Weapons equipped with terminal guidance systems (laser, infrared, GPS) to hit a specific target precisely.
Defence Procurement: Under the Indian Constitution, defence and armed forces fall exclusively under the Union List (Article 246, Seventh Schedule), making the Central Government solely responsible for such initiatives.

India & World Comparison

Globally, the United States leads this sector with its Reaper drones and Hellfire missiles. Turkey has also gained prominence with its Bayraktar TB2 drones and MAM-L micro-munitions. With the ULPGM-V3, India enters this elite club, matching global standards in tactical drone-launched precision strikes, making it a potential exporter to friendly nations in the Global South.

Future Impact

Immediate Induction: BDL and Adani Defence will begin mass serial production, likely leading to formal induction into the Armed Forces by 2027.
Export Potential: Proven indigenous drone munitions will open export markets in Southeast Asia and Africa.
Tactical Shift: Border guarding forces will increasingly rely on armed UAVs for counter-insurgency operations, reducing the risk to human soldiers.

🔑 Key Points for Revision

Event: Final development trials of ULPGM-V3 completed by DRDO.
Date: 19 May 2026.
Location: DRDO test range, Kurnool (Andhra Pradesh).
Modes: Air-to-Ground (Anti-tank) and Air-to-Air (Anti-drone/helicopter).
Nodal Lab: Research Centre Imarat (RCI), Hyderabad.
Supporting Labs: DRDL, TBRL, HEMRL.
UAV Platform: Developed by Newspace Research and Technologies (Bengaluru).
Production Partners: Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) and Adani Defence.
Key Tech: Ground Control System (GCS) automates launch readiness.
Policy Link: Direct outcome of Aatmanirbhar Bharat and DAP 2020.
Constitutional Link: Defence falls under the Union List (Seventh Schedule).
Global Peers: Matches capabilities of US Hellfire and Turkish MAM-L.
Economic Impact: Strengthens the MSME-driven domestic defence supply chain.
Strategic Benefit: Reduces reliance on foreign arms imports.
Future Milestone: Ready for immediate mass serial production.

🧠 Concept Link (Static GK Deep Dive)

Core Concept: Precision Guided Munitions (PGMs)

Definition: A guided weapon intended to precisely hit a specific target, minimising collateral damage and increasing lethality.
Constitutional / Legal Basis: Defence and military technology fall under the Union List (Seventh Schedule, Article 246).
Scientific / Economic Principle: Uses onboard seekers (electro-optical, infrared, or laser) and aerodynamic control surfaces to dynamically alter its flight path post-launch.
How it connects to this event: The ULPGM-V3 is a miniature PGM tailored specifically for the weight and size constraints of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs).
Origin & History: The concept was first widely applied during the Vietnam War with early laser-guided bombs (1960s).
Key milestone 1: 1983 — India launches the IGMDP under Dr APJ Abdul Kalam to build self-reliance in missile technology.
Key milestone 2: 2020 — India publishes the first "positive indigenisation list" banning imports of certain PGMs to promote local R&D.
Related Acts / Schemes / Treaties: Make in India (Defence), Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP) 2020.
Nodal Ministry / Body: Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) under the Ministry of Defence.
India-specific relevance: Crucial for surgical strikes and cross-border anti-terror operations where pinpoint accuracy is required to avoid civilian casualties.
Global comparison: The global gold standard for drone-launched PGMs is the American AGM-114 Hellfire missile.
Data point: The global Precision Guided Munition market is projected to reach $50 billion by 2030 due to rising drone warfare.
Common exam angle: UPSC often tests the names of specific DRDO labs responsible for these missiles and the types of guidance systems used.
Easy memory hook: "PGMs strike the target, not the terrain — pinpoint accuracy from the sky."

❓ Practice MCQs

Q1. Which organisation served as the nodal laboratory for the development of the ULPGM-V3 missile?

A) Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE)

B) Research Centre Imarat (RCI)

C) Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL)

D) Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC)

Answer: B

Explanation: Research Centre Imarat (RCI), based in Hyderabad, acted as the nodal DRDO lab for developing the ULPGM-V3.

Q2. Where were the final development trials of the ULPGM-V3 conducted?

A) Pokhran, Rajasthan

B) Chandipur, Odisha

C) Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh

D) Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh

Answer: C

Explanation: The successful final deliverable configuration trials were conducted at the DRDO test range near Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh.

Q3. Which of the following private sector entities partnered with DRDO for the mass production of the ULPGM-V3?

A) Tata Advanced Systems and L&T Defence

B) Bharat Dynamics Limited and Adani Defence Systems

C) Mahindra Defence and Kalyani Strategic Systems

D) Reliance Naval and Godrej Aerospace

Answer: B

Explanation: DRDO partnered with Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) and Adani Defence Systems & Technologies for the serial production of the missile.

Q4. The ULPGM-V3 is capable of engaging targets in which of the following combat modes?

A) Surface-to-Air only

B) Air-to-Ground only

C) Air-to-Ground and Air-to-Air

D) Anti-Ship and Anti-Submarine

Answer: C

Explanation: The missile was successfully tested in both Air-to-Ground (anti-tank) and Air-to-Air (anti-drone/helicopter) modes.

Q5. Which company developed the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) platform used to test the ULPGM-V3?

A) Newspace Research and Technologies

B) ideaForge Technology

C) Garuda Aerospace

D) Zen Technologies

Answer: A

Explanation: The missile system was integrated and tested on UAVs developed by the Bengaluru-based start-up Newspace Research and Technologies.

Q6. The integrated Ground Control System (GCS) used in the ULPGM-V3 trials is primarily responsible for which function?

A) Manufacturing the warhead explosives

B) Automating launch readiness and target control operations

C) Providing satellite navigation data exclusively

D) Piloting the drone manually from the ground

Answer: B

Explanation: The GCS features state-of-the-art technologies specifically designed to command the weapon system and automate readiness and launch operations.

Q7. Which of the following DRDO laboratories is most likely responsible for the warhead and explosive materials of the ULPGM-V3?

A) Naval Science and Technological Laboratory (NSTL)

B) Defence Food Research Laboratory (DFRL)

C) High Energy Materials Research Laboratory (HEMRL)

D) Defence Institute of Psychological Research (DIPR)

Answer: C

Explanation: High Energy Materials Research Laboratory (HEMRL), Pune, alongside TBRL, is historically responsible for developing high explosives and propellants for DRDO missiles.

Q8. The ULPGM-V3 project perfectly aligns with which category of the Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP) 2020?

A) Buy (Global - Manufacture in India)

B) Buy (Indian - IDDM)

C) Buy and Make (Indian)

D) Make III

Answer: B

Explanation: Being designed, developed, and manufactured entirely within the domestic ecosystem, it fits the highest priority category: Buy (Indian-Indigenously Designed, Developed and Manufactured).

📜 Previous Year Question Style (PYQ)

PYQ 1:

With reference to India's defence capabilities, what is the primary advantage of deploying Precision Guided Munitions (PGMs) on Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs)?

A) They allow for the deployment of nuclear warheads over long intercontinental distances.

B) They enable precise tactical strikes against specific targets while significantly reducing collateral damage.

C) They replace the need for traditional infantry completely in border security.

D) They are immune to all forms of electronic jamming and cyber warfare.

Answer: B

Explanation: UAV-launched PGMs are highly valued in modern combat for their ability to accurately eliminate small targets (like tanks or bunkers) with minimal risk to surrounding civilian infrastructure.

PYQ 2:

Consider the following statements regarding the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Launched Precision Guided Missile (ULPGM)-V3:

1. It was developed exclusively by foreign defence contractors under the Make in India initiative.
2. It can engage both ground targets like tanks and airborne targets like helicopters.
3. Research Centre Imarat (RCI) functioned as the nodal laboratory for its development.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

A) 1 and 2 only

B) 2 and 3 only

C) 3 only

D) All of the above

Answer: B

Explanation: Statement 1 is incorrect as the missile was developed entirely through the Indian defence ecosystem, not foreign contractors. Statements 2 and 3 are correct.

PYQ 3:

Assertion (A): The successful trial of ULPGM-V3 is considered a major milestone for Aatmanirbhar Bharat in defence.

Reason (R): The entire system, from the missile to the UAV platform and production supply chain, relies on domestic MSMEs and Indian industries.

Select the correct code:

A) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.

B) Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A.

C) A is true but R is false.

D) A is false but R is true.

Answer: A

Explanation: The successful trial proves that India's domestic supply chain (DRDO, MSMEs, private companies like BDL/Adani) is fully mature and capable of independent mass production, fulfilling the goal of self-reliance.

✍️ Mains Answer Pointers

Question 1 (150 words): The successful testing of the ULPGM-V3 is a testament to the growing synergy between DRDO and private industry. Discuss the significance of this public-private partnership in India's defence sector.

Introduction: Mention the recent ULPGM-V3 trials where DRDO collaborated with private firms (Newspace, Adani, BDL) as a milestone for Aatmanirbhar Bharat.
Body Point 1: [Speed of Production] Private sector integration allows for immediate mass serial production, cutting down the traditional bureaucratic delays of PSUs.
Body Point 2: [Ecosystem Growth] Involvement of MSMEs builds a robust domestic supply chain, creating jobs and retaining capital within the Indian economy.
Body Point 3: [Innovation] Start-ups like Newspace Research bring agile innovation (like modern UAV platforms) that complements DRDO's deep research capabilities.
Conclusion: Public-private synergy shifts India from being the world's largest arms importer to a self-reliant defence manufacturer and potential exporter.
Data/Diagram to include: Mention that defence exports have crossed ₹21,000 crore, driven heavily by private sector participation.

Question 2 (250 words): Unmanned combat systems and precision-guided munitions are fundamentally altering the nature of modern warfare. In this context, evaluate the strategic and tactical implications of India's indigenous ULPGM-V3 for border security.

Introduction: Define modern warfare's shift towards drone-centric combat and introduce the ULPGM-V3 as India's indigenous response to this shift.
Body Point 1: [Tactical Advantage] Air-to-Ground modes allow for pinpoint strikes against enemy armour (anti-tank) without risking piloted aircraft.
Body Point 2: [Anti-Drone Defence] The Air-to-Air capability provides a crucial defence mechanism against low-cost enemy drone swarms and helicopters.
Body Point 3: [Strategic Self-Reliance] Eliminates the reliance on imported systems (e.g., Hellfire, Spike), ensuring supply chain security during geopolitical crises.
Body Point 4: [Economic Dimension] Boosts the indigenous defence ecosystem (MSMEs, BDL) under the Buy (Indian-IDDM) category of DAP 2020.
Body Point 5: [Counter-Insurgency] Enables precise surgical strikes in difficult terrains like the LoC with minimal collateral damage.
Body Point 6: [Challenges] Challenges remain in scaling production, maintaining electronic warfare resilience against advanced jamming, and integrating these systems across all three armed services seamlessly.
Conclusion: The ULPGM-V3 acts as a force multiplier. Continuous R&D investment is essential to stay ahead in the rapidly evolving domain of autonomous warfare.
Data/Diagram to include: Flowchart showing the "Sensor to Shooter" loop: UAV detects target → GCS processes data → ULPGM-V3 executes precision strike.

⚠️ Examiner Trap

Trap 1: Students often confuse the drone developer with the missile developer. The correct fact is that DRDO (specifically RCI) developed the missile, while the drone platform was developed by a private startup, Newspace Research.
Trap 2: A common wrong assumption is that the ULPGM is only an anti-tank missile. The reality is that the recent V3 trials successfully proved both Air-to-Ground (anti-tank) AND Air-to-Air (anti-drone/helicopter) capabilities.
Trap 3: Many students miss the production partners when answering questions on this topic. Always remember that Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) and Adani Defence are the designated production agencies, not just HAL or DRDO alone.

🧭 Exam Tip

For Prelims, examiners love matching DRDO laboratories with their functions (e.g., RCI as the nodal lab, HEMRL for explosives) and identifying the exact location of trials (Kurnool). For Mains (GS 3), focus entirely on the "Aatmanirbhar Bharat" angle — how DRDO is acting as an anchor to build a domestic MSME supply chain. In Interviews, be prepared to discuss the ethical and tactical implications of drone warfare and precision strikes. High-Probability Prediction: Expect a Prelims statement-based question testing the dual modes (Air-to-Air and Air-to-Ground) of the ULPGM-V3 in the upcoming UPSC or CDS exams.

DRDO Successfully Tests UAV-Launched Precision Guided Missile (ULPGM-V3)

What Happened

When & Where

Who Is Involved

DRDO (Research Centre Imarat - RCI): Nodal laboratory responsible for the core development of the missile.
Other DRDO Labs: DRDL (Hyderabad), TBRL (Chandigarh), and HEMRL (Pune) assisted in propulsion and warhead design.
Production Agencies: Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) and Adani Defence Systems & Technologies Limited.
UAV Provider: Newspace Research and Technologies (Bengaluru) provided the drone platform for missile integration.
Ministry of Defence: Overseeing the project under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat framework.

How It Works

Target Identification: The UAV patrols a designated sector and uses its onboard sensors to identify hostile targets like tanks or enemy drones.
Automated Tracking: The integrated Ground Control System (GCS) locks onto the target and automates the launch readiness sequence.
Launch Command: The GCS operator issues the final command, firing the ULPGM-V3 in either an air-to-air or air-to-ground trajectory.
Precision Strike: The missile uses its internal guidance systems to adjust its flight path mid-air, ensuring pinpoint accuracy and minimising collateral damage.

Why It Matters

Historical Background

1983: India launched the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP) to build domestic missile capability.
2020: The government announced negative import lists to ban the import of specific weapons, forcing the development of indigenous alternatives.
2022: DRDO successfully tested the HELINA (Helicopter-launched Nag) anti-tank missile, laying the groundwork for miniaturised, air-launched munitions like the ULPGM.

Previous Related Events

2023: DRDO showcased early prototypes of micro-munitions designed specifically for drone deployment.
2024: The Indian military inducted Hermes 900 Starliner drones to boost Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition, and Reconnaissance (ISTAR) capabilities.
2025: Successful tests of indigenous loitering munitions (kamikaze drones) like Nagastra-1 were conducted, strengthening tactical drone warfare.

Static GK Connection

Precision Guided Munitions (PGMs): Weapons equipped with terminal guidance systems (laser, infrared, GPS) to hit a specific target precisely.
Defence Procurement: Under the Indian Constitution, defence and armed forces fall exclusively under the Union List (Article 246, Seventh Schedule), making the Central Government solely responsible for such initiatives.

India & World Comparison

Future Impact

Immediate Induction: BDL and Adani Defence will begin mass serial production, likely leading to formal induction into the Armed Forces by 2027.
Export Potential: Proven indigenous drone munitions will open export markets in Southeast Asia and Africa.
Tactical Shift: Border guarding forces will increasingly rely on armed UAVs for counter-insurgency operations, reducing the risk to human soldiers.

🔑 Key Points for Revision

Event: Final development trials of ULPGM-V3 completed by DRDO.
Date: 19 May 2026.
Location: DRDO test range, Kurnool (Andhra Pradesh).
Modes: Air-to-Ground (Anti-tank) and Air-to-Air (Anti-drone/helicopter).
Nodal Lab: Research Centre Imarat (RCI), Hyderabad.
Supporting Labs: DRDL, TBRL, HEMRL.
UAV Platform: Developed by Newspace Research and Technologies (Bengaluru).
Production Partners: Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) and Adani Defence.
Key Tech: Ground Control System (GCS) automates launch readiness.
Policy Link: Direct outcome of Aatmanirbhar Bharat and DAP 2020.
Constitutional Link: Defence falls under the Union List (Seventh Schedule).
Global Peers: Matches capabilities of US Hellfire and Turkish MAM-L.
Economic Impact: Strengthens the MSME-driven domestic defence supply chain.
Strategic Benefit: Reduces reliance on foreign arms imports.
Future Milestone: Ready for immediate mass serial production.

🧠 Concept Link (Static GK Deep Dive)

Core Concept: Precision Guided Munitions (PGMs)

Definition: A guided weapon intended to precisely hit a specific target, minimising collateral damage and increasing lethality.
Constitutional / Legal Basis: Defence and military technology fall under the Union List (Seventh Schedule, Article 246).
Scientific / Economic Principle: Uses onboard seekers (electro-optical, infrared, or laser) and aerodynamic control surfaces to dynamically alter its flight path post-launch.
How it connects to this event: The ULPGM-V3 is a miniature PGM tailored specifically for the weight and size constraints of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs).
Origin & History: The concept was first widely applied during the Vietnam War with early laser-guided bombs (1960s).
Key milestone 1: 1983 — India launches the IGMDP under Dr APJ Abdul Kalam to build self-reliance in missile technology.
Key milestone 2: 2020 — India publishes the first "positive indigenisation list" banning imports of certain PGMs to promote local R&D.
Related Acts / Schemes / Treaties: Make in India (Defence), Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP) 2020.
Nodal Ministry / Body: Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) under the Ministry of Defence.
India-specific relevance: Crucial for surgical strikes and cross-border anti-terror operations where pinpoint accuracy is required to avoid civilian casualties.
Global comparison: The global gold standard for drone-launched PGMs is the American AGM-114 Hellfire missile.
Data point: The global Precision Guided Munition market is projected to reach $50 billion by 2030 due to rising drone warfare.
Common exam angle: UPSC often tests the names of specific DRDO labs responsible for these missiles and the types of guidance systems used.
Easy memory hook: "PGMs strike the target, not the terrain — pinpoint accuracy from the sky."

❓ Practice MCQs

Q1. Which organisation served as the nodal laboratory for the development of the ULPGM-V3 missile?

A) Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE)

B) Research Centre Imarat (RCI)

C) Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL)

D) Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC)

Answer: B

Explanation: Research Centre Imarat (RCI), based in Hyderabad, acted as the nodal DRDO lab for developing the ULPGM-V3.

Q2. Where were the final development trials of the ULPGM-V3 conducted?

A) Pokhran, Rajasthan

B) Chandipur, Odisha

C) Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh

D) Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh

Answer: C

Explanation: The successful final deliverable configuration trials were conducted at the DRDO test range near Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh.

Q3. Which of the following private sector entities partnered with DRDO for the mass production of the ULPGM-V3?

A) Tata Advanced Systems and L&T Defence

B) Bharat Dynamics Limited and Adani Defence Systems

C) Mahindra Defence and Kalyani Strategic Systems

D) Reliance Naval and Godrej Aerospace

Answer: B

Explanation: DRDO partnered with Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) and Adani Defence Systems & Technologies for the serial production of the missile.

Q4. The ULPGM-V3 is capable of engaging targets in which of the following combat modes?

A) Surface-to-Air only

B) Air-to-Ground only

C) Air-to-Ground and Air-to-Air

D) Anti-Ship and Anti-Submarine

Answer: C

Explanation: The missile was successfully tested in both Air-to-Ground (anti-tank) and Air-to-Air (anti-drone/helicopter) modes.

Q5. Which company developed the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) platform used to test the ULPGM-V3?

A) Newspace Research and Technologies

B) ideaForge Technology

C) Garuda Aerospace

D) Zen Technologies

Answer: A

Explanation: The missile system was integrated and tested on UAVs developed by the Bengaluru-based start-up Newspace Research and Technologies.

Q6. The integrated Ground Control System (GCS) used in the ULPGM-V3 trials is primarily responsible for which function?

A) Manufacturing the warhead explosives

B) Automating launch readiness and target control operations

C) Providing satellite navigation data exclusively

D) Piloting the drone manually from the ground

Answer: B

Explanation: The GCS features state-of-the-art technologies specifically designed to command the weapon system and automate readiness and launch operations.

Q7. Which of the following DRDO laboratories is most likely responsible for the warhead and explosive materials of the ULPGM-V3?

A) Naval Science and Technological Laboratory (NSTL)

B) Defence Food Research Laboratory (DFRL)

C) High Energy Materials Research Laboratory (HEMRL)

D) Defence Institute of Psychological Research (DIPR)

Answer: C

Explanation: High Energy Materials Research Laboratory (HEMRL), Pune, alongside TBRL, is historically responsible for developing high explosives and propellants for DRDO missiles.

Q8. The ULPGM-V3 project perfectly aligns with which category of the Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP) 2020?

A) Buy (Global - Manufacture in India)

B) Buy (Indian - IDDM)

C) Buy and Make (Indian)

D) Make III

Answer: B

📜 Previous Year Question Style (PYQ)

PYQ 1:

With reference to India's defence capabilities, what is the primary advantage of deploying Precision Guided Munitions (PGMs) on Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs)?

A) They allow for the deployment of nuclear warheads over long intercontinental distances.

B) They enable precise tactical strikes against specific targets while significantly reducing collateral damage.

C) They replace the need for traditional infantry completely in border security.

D) They are immune to all forms of electronic jamming and cyber warfare.

Answer: B

PYQ 2:

Consider the following statements regarding the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Launched Precision Guided Missile (ULPGM)-V3:

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

A) 1 and 2 only

B) 2 and 3 only

C) 3 only

D) All of the above

Answer: B

Explanation: Statement 1 is incorrect as the missile was developed entirely through the Indian defence ecosystem, not foreign contractors. Statements 2 and 3 are correct.

PYQ 3:

Assertion (A): The successful trial of ULPGM-V3 is considered a major milestone for Aatmanirbhar Bharat in defence.

Reason (R): The entire system, from the missile to the UAV platform and production supply chain, relies on domestic MSMEs and Indian industries.

Select the correct code:

A) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.

B) Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A.

C) A is true but R is false.

D) A is false but R is true.

Answer: A

✍️ Mains Answer Pointers

Introduction: Mention the recent ULPGM-V3 trials where DRDO collaborated with private firms (Newspace, Adani, BDL) as a milestone for Aatmanirbhar Bharat.
Body Point 1: [Speed of Production] Private sector integration allows for immediate mass serial production, cutting down the traditional bureaucratic delays of PSUs.
Body Point 2: [Ecosystem Growth] Involvement of MSMEs builds a robust domestic supply chain, creating jobs and retaining capital within the Indian economy.
Body Point 3: [Innovation] Start-ups like Newspace Research bring agile innovation (like modern UAV platforms) that complements DRDO's deep research capabilities.
Conclusion: Public-private synergy shifts India from being the world's largest arms importer to a self-reliant defence manufacturer and potential exporter.
Data/Diagram to include: Mention that defence exports have crossed ₹21,000 crore, driven heavily by private sector participation.

Introduction: Define modern warfare's shift towards drone-centric combat and introduce the ULPGM-V3 as India's indigenous response to this shift.
Body Point 1: [Tactical Advantage] Air-to-Ground modes allow for pinpoint strikes against enemy armour (anti-tank) without risking piloted aircraft.
Body Point 2: [Anti-Drone Defence] The Air-to-Air capability provides a crucial defence mechanism against low-cost enemy drone swarms and helicopters.
Body Point 3: [Strategic Self-Reliance] Eliminates the reliance on imported systems (e.g., Hellfire, Spike), ensuring supply chain security during geopolitical crises.
Body Point 4: [Economic Dimension] Boosts the indigenous defence ecosystem (MSMEs, BDL) under the Buy (Indian-IDDM) category of DAP 2020.
Body Point 5: [Counter-Insurgency] Enables precise surgical strikes in difficult terrains like the LoC with minimal collateral damage.
Body Point 6: [Challenges] Challenges remain in scaling production, maintaining electronic warfare resilience against advanced jamming, and integrating these systems across all three armed services seamlessly.
Conclusion: The ULPGM-V3 acts as a force multiplier. Continuous R&D investment is essential to stay ahead in the rapidly evolving domain of autonomous warfare.
Data/Diagram to include: Flowchart showing the "Sensor to Shooter" loop: UAV detects target → GCS processes data → ULPGM-V3 executes precision strike.

⚠️ Examiner Trap

Trap 1: Students often confuse the drone developer with the missile developer. The correct fact is that DRDO (specifically RCI) developed the missile, while the drone platform was developed by a private startup, Newspace Research.
Trap 2: A common wrong assumption is that the ULPGM is only an anti-tank missile. The reality is that the recent V3 trials successfully proved both Air-to-Ground (anti-tank) AND Air-to-Air (anti-drone/helicopter) capabilities.
Trap 3: Many students miss the production partners when answering questions on this topic. Always remember that Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) and Adani Defence are the designated production agencies, not just HAL or DRDO alone.