Hyderabad-Made UGRAM Battle Rifle Clears Key Army, MHA Trials; Set for CAPF Procurement

Hyderabad, July 2026: Hyderabad-based defence startup Dvipa Defence, in collaboration with the Defence Research and Development Organisation’s (DRDO) Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE), has achieved a major milestone with its indigenous UGRAM 7.62×51 mm battle rifle successfully completing key trials conducted by the Indian Army and the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).

The successful completion of the rigorous evaluations has paved the way for the rifle’s procurement by several Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs), including the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) and the National Security Guard (NSG).

One of the standout achievements of the programme is its rapid development timeline. The UGRAM rifle was conceptualised, designed and built in just 100 days, making it one of the fastest indigenous small-arms development projects undertaken in India.

According to Dvipa Defence, the rifle has undergone extensive reliability, endurance and field performance tests, including evaluations under diverse climatic conditions. It has also successfully cleared the Indian Army’s General Staff Qualitative Requirement (GSQR) trials and the MHA Board trials, validating its operational capabilities for deployment by India’s security forces.

Designed as a modern battle rifle, the UGRAM features a gas-operated rotating bolt system, weighs less than four kilograms, and offers an effective engagement range of up to 500 metres. The lightweight design and advanced operating mechanism are intended to enhance mobility, accuracy and reliability in demanding combat environments.

Dvipa Defence Managing Director Sibu Joseph said the successful completion of multiple trial phases reflects the rifle’s robust design and operational readiness.

“The UGRAM has successfully met stringent Army GSQR standards and performed exceptionally during extensive field evaluations across varied terrains and weather conditions. We remain committed to developing world-class defence systems in India for Indian security forces,” he said.

Founded in 2018, Dvipa Defence received its manufacturing licence in 2021 and has since established a state-of-the-art production facility spread across more than 13 acres of land allotted by the Telangana government in Hyderabad. The company has developed over 100 indigenous weapon systems and variants, with the UGRAM emerging as its flagship platform.

Beyond the battle rifle, the company is building a comprehensive family of indigenous defence products, including the U-19 sub-machine gun, Ultra-Light Machine Gun (ULMG), U-45 assault rifle, U-39 platform, and a weaponised anti-drone system based on the UGRAM architecture.

Dvipa Defence believes the success of the UGRAM programme represents a significant step towards strengthening India’s defence self-reliance under the ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ initiative. The project is also expected to reinforce Hyderabad’s growing reputation as a major hub for indigenous defence manufacturing while reducing the country’s dependence on imported small arms and military equipment.

With procurement processes now underway, the UGRAM battle rifle is poised to become one of the newest indigenous additions to India’s frontline security arsenal.