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DRDO

Verified timeline, 18 Dec 2025 to 25 Aug 2026. Every entry is confirmed by independent sources, listed at the foot of the page.

Latest entry

Rajnath Singh permits transfer of DRDO missile technologies to private companies.

25 Aug 2026

Timeline

  1. Defence

    Rajnath Singh permits transfer of DRDO missile technologies to private companies123

    Defence Minister Rajnath Singh approved the transfer of DRDO-developed technology for conventional missile systems to Indian companies, announced by the Defence Ministry on 25 August 2026; firms will be picked by competitive bidding as development-cum-production partners.

    • Announced Tuesday 25 August 2026
    • Firms selected through competitive bidding as development-cum-production partners
    • Subject to qualifications, certifications and regulatory requirements
    • No list of covered missiles published; Astra and Pralay reported as likely
  2. Science and tech

    DRDO and University of Hyderabad get patent for BAM-H24 rocket fuel45

    The Indian Patent Office granted Patent No. 599900 on 20 August 2026 to DRDO and the University of Hyderabad's ACRHEM for BAM-H24, a boron-rich energetic compound for solid rocket propellant (filed 21 December 2022).

    • Patent No. 599900 (application 202211074244), granted 20 August 2026
    • Compound: hexaethylbut-2-yne-1,4-diaminium dodecaborane, designed as solid rocket fuel or burn-rate accelerator
    • Inventors Dr Muddamarri Hanumantha Rao and Prof. Muralidharan Krishnamurthi (ACRHEM, UoH)
    • Performance benefits are projections; GKToday gives 2 September as the date
  3. Defence

    DRDO flight-tests Kusha long-range surface-to-air missile for the first time678

    DRDO conducted the maiden flight test of the Kusha long-range surface-to-air missile on 23 July 2026 from APJ Abdul Kalam Island, Odisha; it intercepted an electronic target simulating a high-speed, high-altitude threat. Project Kusha (an Extended Range Air Defence System for the IAF and Navy) was cleared for development by the CCS in May 2022; three variants are expected to be inducted between 2028 and 2030.

    • DRDO conducted the maiden flight test of the Kusha long-range surface-to-air missile on 23 July 2026 from APJ Abdul Kalam Island, Odisha; it intercepted an electronic target simulating a high-speed, high-altitude threat
    • Project Kusha (an Extended Range Air Defence System for the IAF and Navy) was cleared for development by the CCS in May 2022; three variants are expected to be inducted between 2028 and 2030
  4. Defence

    DRDO flight-tests Pinaka Long Range Guided Rocket at 60 km91011

    DRDO flight-tested the Pinaka Long Range Guided Rocket (LRGR) at its 60 km minimum range on 8 July 2026 from the Integrated Test Range, Chandipur, Odisha, using an in-service Pinaka launcher. The rocket is designed by ARDE with HEMRL, with support from other DRDO labs including RCI; the maiden LRGR-120 test in December 2025 reached 120 km.

    • DRDO flight-tested the Pinaka Long Range Guided Rocket (LRGR) at its 60 km minimum range on 8 July 2026 from the Integrated Test Range, Chandipur, Odisha, using an in-service Pinaka launcher
    • The rocket is designed by ARDE with HEMRL, with support from other DRDO labs including RCI; the maiden LRGR-120 test in December 2025 reached 120 km
  5. Defence

    DRDO flight-tests Long Range Land Attack Cruise Missile from Odisha12

    The LRLACM was launched from Abdul Kalam Island on 15 June 2026.

    • DRDO flight-tested the Long Range Land Attack Cruise Missile (LRLACM) from Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam Island off Odisha on Monday 15 June 2026
    • The test was described as successful
  6. Defence

    DRDO and IAF flight-test RudraM-II air-to-surface missile1314

    DRDO and the Indian Air Force flight-tested the RudraM-II air-to-surface missile, released from an aircraft under extreme release conditions. The Ministry of Defence said the missiles reached the predefined target and all objectives were met, as shown by range data from the Integrated Test Range at Chandipur.

    • Ministry of Defence announced the flight test on 2 June 2026
    • Missiles were released under extreme conditions and hit the predefined target; all test objectives met
    • Range data captured at the Integrated Test Range, Chandipur, Odisha
    • Launch platform reported by media as the Su-30MKI
  7. Defence

    DRDO completes final-configuration trials of ULPGM-V3 missile151617

    DRDO completed developmental trials of the UAV-launched precision guided missile ULPGM-V3 in air-to-ground and air-to-air modes near Kurnool on 20 May.

    • DRDO completed final deliverable-configuration development trials of the ULPGM-V3 UAV-launched precision-guided missile near Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh, announced by the Defence Ministry on 19-20 May 2026
    • Tested in air-to-ground and air-to-air modes using an integrated ground control system
    • Production partners: Bharat Dynamics Limited and Adani Defence
  8. Defence

    DRDO flight-tests long-range hypersonic anti-ship missile for the second time1819

    DRDO conducted the second flight test of its Long-Range Hypersonic Anti-Ship Missile off the Odisha coast on 4 May, reportedly at hypersonic speed.

    • Reports from about 3-4 May 2026 say DRDO carried out a second (Phase-II) flight test of the Long-Range Anti-Ship Missile off the Odisha coast
    • Unofficial reports claim a Mach 10 initial speed and about 1,500 km range; the defence ministry and DRDO gave no details, and the only public statement came from BJP's social media account
  9. Defence

    DRDO conducts three successful VSHORADS flight trials20212223

    DRDO carried out three successive flight trials of the Very Short Range Air Defence System (VSHORADS) at the Integrated Test Range, Chandipur, Odisha on 27 February, with the Defence Ministry announcing results on 28 February. The man-portable system intercepted low-thermal-signature targets mimicking drones.

    • Three successive flight trials at ITR Chandipur, Odisha on 27 February 2026 (announced 28 February)
    • All three missiles intercepted targets with reduced thermal signature mimicking low-flying drones
    • Tests done in final deployment configuration with two field operators
    • Engagement range 250 m to 6 km, altitude up to 12,000 ft
  10. Defence

    DRDO tests full-scale actively cooled scramjet combustor for over 1,000 seconds24

    DRDO's Hyderabad laboratory DRDL ran the first ignition trial of a full-scale actively cooled scramjet combustor in January 2026, with a run time of over 700 seconds, a step towards hypersonic cruise missiles.

    • January 2026 ground test of a full-scale actively cooled scramjet combustor by DRDL, Hyderabad
    • Run time over 700 seconds (more than 12 minutes); earlier 1,000 s test in April 2025 was on a subscale combustor
    • A 1,200 second run followed on 9 May 2026
    • Supports hypersonic cruise missile development
  11. Defence

    DRDO fires two Pralay missiles in salvo off Odisha coast252627

    DRDO fired two Pralay quasi-ballistic missiles in quick succession from the same launcher on 31 December. The test checked rapid multi-missile deployment.

    • Salvo launch of two Pralay missiles back to back from one launcher on 31 December 2025 off the Odisha coast
    • User evaluation trials; both followed planned trajectories per ITR Chandipur sensors
    • Pralay is a solid-propellant quasi-ballistic missile, 150-500 km range
    • Developed by Research Centre Imarat, Hyderabad
  12. Defence

    DRDO tests Pinaka LRGR-120 long-range guided rocket282930

    DRDO flight-tested the Pinaka Long Range Guided Rocket with a range of about 120 km at the Integrated Test Range, Chandipur, Odisha on 29 December. The rocket hit its target with precision.

    • Maiden flight test on 29 December 2025 at ITR Chandipur, Odisha
    • Range about 120 km, hit target with precision
    • Designed by ARDE with HEMRL; fired from an existing Pinaka launcher
    • Existing Pinaka rockets have about 80 km range
  13. Science and tech

    ISRO and DRDO complete Gaganyaan drogue parachute tests313233

    ISRO and DRDO qualified the Gaganyaan crew module's drogue parachutes in sled tests at Chandigarh on 18 and 19 December. Deployment at speeds above 600 kmph was a step towards the first uncrewed G1 mission.

    • Drogue parachute qualification tests on 18-19 December 2025 at the Rail Track Rocket Sled facility of TBRL, Chandigarh
    • VSSC, DRDO's ADRDE and TBRL took part
    • Crew module deceleration system has 10 parachutes of four types
    • Step towards the uncrewed Gaganyaan G1 mission

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Sources

  1. The Week
  2. Deccan Chronicle
  3. Al Jazeera
  4. Deccan Chronicle
  5. University of Hyderabad
  6. Press Information Bureau (MoD)
  7. ThePrint
  8. The Tribune
  9. Press Information Bureau (MoD)
  10. The Tribune
  11. The Week
  12. The Hindu
  13. All India Radio
  14. PIB (via GlobalSecurity)
  15. All India Radio News
  16. The Week
  17. UNI
  18. The Week
  19. Republic World
  20. All India Radio
  21. Janes
  22. The Tribune
  23. Deccan Herald
  24. Janes
  25. PIB release via GlobalSecurity
  26. Business Today
  27. WION
  28. All India Radio
  29. ETV Bharat
  30. Deccan Chronicle
  31. ISRO (official)
  32. Business Today
  33. DT Next