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Kawa UAV Pvt. Ltd., a Lucknow-based defence start-up, has successfully conducted the maiden flight test of Divyastra Mk3. It is being described as the first indigenously designed, developed and manufactured jet-powered loitering munition with an indigenous powerplant to take flight in India.

About Divyastra Mk3

Divyastra Mk3 is an indigenous loitering munition, commonly referred to as a kamikaze or suicide drone. It is designed as a one-way attack system that can locate/approach a target and destroy high-value enemy assets, infrastructure or personnel using an onboard explosive warhead.

The system has been developed by Kawa UAV Pvt. Ltd. (HoverIt) and uses an indigenous jet-propulsion system developed by DG Propulsion, New Delhi.

While official specifications have not been released, indicative figures reported for the system include:

• Range: ~300–400 km
• Speed: ~250–300 kmph
• Warhead: up to ~15–20 kg
• Guidance: Autonomous flight control with AI-enabled target engagement

Why is Jet Propulsion Important?

Unlike many conventional UAVs that use electric motors or piston engines driving propellers, Divyastra Mk3 employs a compact jet engine. Jet propulsion can provide substantially higher speed, potentially reducing the time available to an adversary to detect, track and intercept the incoming munition.

Thus, while conventional propeller-driven loitering munitions generally emphasiseendurance, simplicity and low operating cost, a jet-powered system places greater emphasis on speed and rapid target engagement.