UGRAM rifle: Dvipa Defence and DRDO ARDE develop 7.62mm battle rifle in 100 days
Synopsis
A Hyderabad startup and DRDO's ARDE built a battle rifle in 100 days — and it has already cleared Army and MHA trials. The UGRAM 7.62x51mm is now headed for procurement by the CRPF, ITBP, SSB, and NSG, marking one of the most significant milestones for India's private defence manufacturing sector.
Key Takeaways
Dvipa Defence and DRDO's ARDE jointly developed the UGRAM 7.62x51mm battle rifle in just 100 days .
The rifle has cleared Army GSQR trials , field evaluations in all climatic conditions, and MHA Board trials .
Procurement is advancing with CRPF , ITBP , SSB , and NSG .
UGRAM weighs under 4 kg , uses a gas-operated rotating bolt system, and has an effective range of 500 metres .
Dvipa Defence, founded in 2018 , operates a 13-acre production facility in Hyderabad and has developed over 100 indigenous weapon systems .
Hyderabad-based defence startup Dvipa Defence and DRDO's Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE) have jointly developed the UGRAM 7.62x51 mm battle rifle, completing key Army and Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) trials and advancing toward procurement by multiple Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs). Designed and built in just 100 days, the UGRAM is being described as one of the fastest indigenous weapon development programmes in the country.
Key Developments
The UGRAM rifle has cleared Army General Staff Qualitative Requirement (GSQR) trials, extensive field evaluations across all climatic conditions, and MHA Board trials, according to Dvipa's Managing Director Sibu Joseph. The rifle has also completed rigorous reliability and endurance testing, paving the way for procurement by the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), and National Security Guard (NSG).
Technical Specifications
The UGRAM features a modern gas-operated rotating bolt system, weighs under four kilograms, and delivers an effective range of 500 metres. The rifle's design balances operational reliability with portability — critical requirements for paramilitary and special forces deployments across varied Indian terrain.
Dvipa Defence's Manufacturing Footprint
Dvipa Defence received its manufacturing licence in 2021 and has since established a full-fledged production facility spread across more than 13 acres of land allotted by the Telangana government in Hyderabad. The company, founded in 2018, has developed over 100 indigenous weapon systems and variants, with UGRAM emerging as its flagship platform. Its broader portfolio includes the U-19 sub-machine gun, Ultra-Light Machine Gun (ULMG), U-45 assault rifle, U-39 platform, and a weaponised anti-drone system built on the UGRAM architecture.
What the Company Said
'We remain committed to building world-class defence products in India for Indian security forces,' said Sibu Joseph, Managing Director of Dvipa Defence. The company believes the UGRAM programme reinforces Hyderabad's standing as a hub for indigenous defence manufacturing and contributes to reducing India's reliance on imported small arms.
Significance for India's Defence Self-Reliance
This comes amid India's sustained push to expand private-sector participation in defence manufacturing under the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative. The UGRAM's rapid development cycle — 100 days from design to build — signals a maturation of India's private defence industrial base, which has historically lagged behind state-owned entities. Notably, this is among the first instances of a private startup co-developing a battle rifle with a DRDO establishment and clearing formal paramilitary procurement trials. The company is also working on expanding its indigenous weapons family to include assault rifles, carbines, sub-machine guns, light machine guns, and anti-drone systems, positioning itself for a broader role in India's small-arms ecosystem.
Point of View
But independent verification of endurance data would strengthen the case. More broadly, Dvipa's trajectory — from licence in 2021 to multi-CAPF procurement in four years — is exactly the kind of private-sector defence success story the Atmanirbhar push needs to produce at scale. Whether UGRAM translates into large-volume orders, or remains a proof-of-concept win, will be the real test of India's small-arms self-reliance ambitions.
NationPress
6 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the UGRAM 7.62x51mm battle rifle?
The UGRAM is an indigenous Indian battle rifle jointly developed by Hyderabad-based Dvipa Defence and DRDO's Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE). It features a gas-operated rotating bolt system, weighs under four kilograms, and has an effective range of 500 metres.
How quickly was the UGRAM rifle developed?
The UGRAM was designed and built in just 100 days, making it one of the fastest indigenous weapon development programmes in India. The rapid timeline involved collaboration between private startup Dvipa Defence and DRDO's ARDE.
Which forces are procuring the UGRAM rifle?
The UGRAM is moving toward procurement by the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), and National Security Guard (NSG), all Central Armed Police Forces under the Ministry of Home Affairs.
What trials has the UGRAM rifle cleared?
The UGRAM has cleared Army General Staff Qualitative Requirement (GSQR) trials, extensive field evaluations across all climatic conditions, MHA Board trials, and comprehensive reliability and endurance testing, according to Dvipa Defence.
Who is Dvipa Defence and where is it based?
Dvipa Defence is a Hyderabad-based private defence startup founded in 2018. It received its manufacturing licence in 2021 and operates a production facility on over 13 acres of land allotted by the Telangana government, having developed more than 100 indigenous weapon systems to date.
