Defence startup, ARDE jointly develop indigenous rifle in 100 days
Hyderabad, July 6
UGRAM 7.62x51 mm battle rifle, developed jointly by Hyderabad-based startup Dvipa Defence with ARDE, has completed key Army and Ministry of Home Affairs trials.
Developed jointly by Dvipa and DRDO's Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE), the UGRAM rifle is now under procurement by several Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs).
The rife was designed and built in just 100 days, billed as one of the fastest indigenous weapon development programmes in the country.
According to the company, the rifle has completed extensive reliability and endurance testing and is now moving towards procurement by the CRPF, ITBP, SSB and NSG.
Dvipa said the UGRAM features a modern gas-operated rotating bolt system, weighs less than four kilograms and has an effective range of 500 metres.
According to Dvipa Managing Director Sibu Joseph, the rifle has successfully cleared Army General Staff Qualitative Requirement (GSQR) trials, extensive field evaluations in all climatic conditions and MHA Board trials.
The startup, which received its manufacturing licence in 2021, has since built a full-fledged production facility on more than 13 acres of land allotted by the Telangana government in Hyderabad.
The company has so far developed over 100 indigenous weapon systems and variants. UGRAM has emerged as its flagship platform.
Dvipa believes the UGRAM programme marks an important step in strengthening Hyderabad's position as a hub for indigenous defence manufacturing while reducing India's dependence on imported small arms.
"We remain committed to building world-class defence products in India for Indian security forces," Joseph said.
The company is also developing a family of indigenous weapons, including assault rifles, carbines, sub-machine guns, light machine guns and anti-drone systems.
Founded in 2018, Dvipa Defence is now positioned among a new generation of private Indian defence manufacturers.
The company also develops an indigenous family of weapons, including the U-19 sub-machine gun, Ultra-Light Machine Gun (ULMG), U-45 assault rifle and U-39 platform, along with a weaponised anti-drone system based on the UGRAM architecture.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Impressive development timeline. I'm curious how the UGRAM compares to battle-proven rifles like the AK-203 or SIG716. The 500m effective range is decent but modern conflicts often require longer engagement ranges. Still, a solid start for Indian defence manufacturing.
At last, some good news on the defence front. The CRPF and NSG using Indian-made rifles will boost our soldiers' morale. But I hope the company has a solid plan for spare parts and maintenance - that's where many "indigenous" projects fall short. Keep it up Dvipa!
Hyderabad becoming a defence hub! First, we have the ordnance factories, now private startups. The Telangana government deserves credit for allotting land quickly. UGRAM weighing under 4 kg is great for quick-reaction forces. Let's hope the procurement doesn't get stuck in red tape.
This is fantastic for our Atmanirbhar Bharat vision. Over 100 indigenous weapon systems developed in just a few years shows the potential of Indian innovation. But I hope they're also working on lighter variants for special forces and a 7.62x39mm version for paramilitary use. Baby steps 🚀
Interesting development, but 100 days for a rifle based on existing technology isn't miraculous - many manufacturers worldwide can do that. The real test will be reliability under field conditions and production capacity. Also, I hope the price point is competitive with imports, otherwise our forces might still prefer foreign options.
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