Kawa UAV Pvt Ltd, operating under the brand name HoverIt, successfully flew the Divyastra Mk3 on 11 August 2026 at a designated drone testing airstrip in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. The flight marked the first time an indigenous Indian loitering munition powered by a domestically developed jet engine took to the air. The entire system, from airframe and propulsion to guidance and payload, was designed and manufactured within India, with no imported jet engine or foreign-sourced critical subsystems.
What Is a Loitering Munition?
A loitering munition is a one-way unmanned aerial weapon that combines the surveillance capabilities of a drone with the destructive power of a guided missile. Unlike a conventional missile, which is fired at a known target and follows a set trajectory, a loitering munition can fly to a designated area, circle overhead while searching for a target, and then dive into it and detonate on impact. Because the weapon is destroyed upon use, it is sometimes called a kamikaze drone or suicide drone.
The concept dates back to the early 1990s, when Israel Aerospace Industries introduced the Harpy, a system designed to hunt radar emitters by homing in on electronic signals from enemy air defence networks. Since then, the category has expanded dramatically. Modern loitering munitions range from palm-sized quadcopters carrying small explosive charges to large delta-wing aircraft with ranges exceeding 2,000 kilometres. They are now used extensively in conflicts around the world, including the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war and the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war.
What makes loitering munitions particularly valuable is their ability to wait in the air before committing to an attack. A traditional cruise missile follows a pre-programmed route to fixed coordinates, but a loitering munition does not need to know its exact target at launch. It can loiter for extended periods, sometimes over 40 minutes, allowing operators to identify and engage mobile or time-sensitive targets such as vehicles, radar installations, or small groups of personnel that would not remain stationary long enough for conventional strikes. This flexibility, combined with relatively low cost and high precision, has made loitering munitions a transformative tool in modern warfare.
How Loitering Munitions Operate
A loitering munition follows three distinct phases during its mission. In the launch phase, the weapon is typically fired from a tube, rail, or canister, often using a compressed-gas system or vehicle-mounted platform. Once airborne, it enters the loitering phase, during which it flies to a designated area and circles overhead, transmitting live video back to an operator through a two-way data link. The operator watches the feed, identifies a target, and commands the munition to strike. In the terminal phase, a camera on the nose allows the operator to steer the weapon onto the target in its final seconds of flight, achieving a level of precision that traditional artillery cannot match. If the situation changes, the operator can wave off the strike and redirect the munition to loiter elsewhere or crash harmlessly.
Propulsion: The Shift to Jet Power
Most early and contemporary loitering munitions use propeller-driven engines, which offer long endurance and fuel efficiency at lower speeds. Examples include Israel’s Harop, the US Switchblade 600, and India’s own Divyastra Mk1. However, propeller-driven systems have a speed limitation that makes them vulnerable to modern air defences. A jet-powered loitering munition can fly significantly faster, making it harder for enemy systems to detect and intercept. It can also penetrate contested airspace more rapidly and execute saturation attacks against air defence networks. The trade-off is that jet engines typically consume more fuel, reducing loitering endurance, which is why the shift to jet power requires careful engineering to balance speed with mission duration.
Divyastra Mk3: India’s First Indigenous Jet-Powered Loitering Munition
The Divyastra Mk3 is a next-generation, jet-powered loitering munition developed by Kawa UAV Pvt Ltd, a Lucknow-based defence-technology startup that operates under the brand name HoverIt. The company is headquartered in the Uttar Pradesh Defence Industrial Corridor (UPDIC), one of two defence corridors established by the Government of India to promote self-reliance in defence manufacturing.
The maiden flight of the Divyastra Mk3 took place on 11 August 2026 at a designated drone testing airstrip in Uttar Pradesh. The programme was initiated at the start of 2026, meaning the company went from inception to a fully airborne jet-powered loitering munition within a single calendar year. Engine performance during the flight fully met all pre-defined parameters, validating the system as a mission-capable platform.
The co-founders of HoverIt described the achievement as a declaration of intent, stating that India has demonstrated, at scale and at speed, its ability to conceive, engineer, and fly a jet-powered precision strike system entirely within its own borders. The company confirmed that no imported jet engine or foreign-sourced critical subsystem was used in the making of the Divyastra Mk3.
What Makes the Mk3 Different
The Divyastra Mk3 represents a substantial leap in capability from its predecessors. While earlier variants relied on propeller-driven propulsion, the Mk3 incorporates a fully indigenous jet propulsion system, advanced autonomous flight control, AI-enabled target engagement architecture, and long-range precision strike performance. All of these were designed and built within India.
The shift to jet propulsion is significant for several reasons. Jet-powered loitering munitions can fly at much higher speeds than propeller-driven ones, making them harder for enemy air defence systems to detect and intercept. They can also penetrate contested airspace more rapidly, execute saturation attacks, and reach targets that slower systems might struggle to engage before the target moves.
The system is designed for modular payloads, including electro-optical sensors, communication relays, and precision warheads, allowing it to adapt to different mission profiles without requiring a complete redesign.
The Role of UPDIC
The Uttar Pradesh Defence Industrial Corridor was announced in the Union Budget 2018-19 to make Uttar Pradesh a major hub for aerospace, defence, and military equipment production. It spans six strategic nodes: Lucknow, Kanpur, Jhansi, Aligarh, Agra, and Chitrakoot. The corridor is implemented by the Uttar Pradesh Expressways Industrial Development Authority (UPEIDA).
As of mid-2026, the UPDIC has attracted investment proposals worth more than ₹35,000 crore, with major defence players including BrahMos Aerospace, Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL), Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), and Adani Defence & Aerospace setting up operations across its nodes. The corridor provides critical infrastructure for testing, manufacturing, and research, allowing defence startups like HoverIt to access facilities that would otherwise be prohibitively expensive to build independently.
The six nodes are connected through major expressway projects including the Yamuna Expressway, Agra-Lucknow Expressway, Bundelkhand Expressway, Purvanchal Expressway, and the upcoming Ganga Expressway, enabling faster movement of raw materials, components, and finished products.
How the Mk3 Builds on Earlier Divyastra Variants
The Divyastra Mk3 is the latest in a family of loitering munitions developed by HoverIt, each representing a step up in capability. Understanding the earlier variants helps explain why the Mk3 matters.
Divyastra Mk1: The Propeller-Driven Foundation
The Divyastra Mk1 was HoverIt’s first major platform, unveiled in March 2026. It is a propeller-driven, AI-powered loitering munition designed for both tactical strike and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) missions. The Mk1 achieved a flight endurance of up to 5.5 hours during key tactical flight tests, with an operational range of up to 500 kilometres and a payload capacity of 15 kilograms. Its attack speed during the terminal phase ranges from 300 to 400 kilometres per hour.
The Mk1 was validated by the Indian Army during an operational demonstration in Jodhpur on 1 June 2026, where it was launched multiple times from a vehicle-mounted mobile launcher and tested under desert temperatures exceeding 50 degrees Celsius. The system demonstrated AI-powered autonomous navigation and swarm-enabled operations, allowing multiple units to coordinate and overwhelm enemy air defences simultaneously.
One of the Mk1’s most notable features is its cost. It is expected to cost about one-third the price of comparable foreign loitering munitions, making it a highly attractive option for large-scale procurement.
Divyastra Mk2: The Bridge
The Divyastra Mk2 entered high-speed taxi trials after the Mk1’s success, with ambitious targets of up to 2,000 kilometres range and significantly higher payload and endurance. The Mk2 is designed to bridge the gap between tactical loitering munitions and strategic deep-strike systems.
Divyastra Mk3: The Jet-Powered Leap
The Mk3 represents the most significant evolution in the Divyastra family. By replacing the propeller-driven system with a jet engine, HoverIt has created a platform that can fly faster, penetrate contested airspace more effectively, and execute missions that slower systems cannot. The jet propulsion enables rapid response to time-sensitive targets and provides greater survivability against modern air defence networks. Combined with AI-enabled targeting, modular payloads, and the fully indigenous supply chain, the Mk3 positions India among a small group of nations capable of developing jet-powered loitering munitions domestically.
Key Comparison: Divyastra Mk1 vs Mk3
| Feature | Divyastra Mk1 | Divyastra Mk3 |
|---|---|---|
| Propulsion | Propeller-driven | Jet-powered (indigenous) |
| Range | Up to 500 km | Under validation |
| Endurance | Up to 5.5 hours | Under validation |
| Payload | 15 kg | Modular (sensors, warheads) |
| Attack Speed | 300-400 km/h | Significantly higher |
| Indigenous Content | ~95% | 100% |
The Indigenous Jet Engine: DG Propulsion’s Breakthrough
The Divyastra Mk3’s jet engine was designed and developed by DG Propulsion Private Limited, a Delhi-based aerospace propulsion startup. DG Propulsion specialises in the design, development, and manufacture of compact turbojet engines for unmanned platforms, including loitering munitions, high-speed UAVs, and cruise missiles.
The company was founded by Prateek Dhawan and Chirag Gupta, a former Indian Navy officer, and was formally incorporated in 2019. Before establishing DG Propulsion, Dhawan pursued a Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering in the United States, where he filed four patents related to micro gas turbines and fuel cells. He also gained industry experience working with companies including Caterpillar, John Deere, and Rolls-Royce.
DG Propulsion’s product lineup includes the DG J20, J40, and J60 turbojet engines, designed to meet various thrust requirements for unmanned aerial vehicles and defence purposes. The company’s flagship DG J40 micro-turbojet engine exceeded the 40-kilogram thrust benchmark during live testing, validating the startup’s ability to design, manufacture, and test indigenous turbine engines. In June 2026, DG Propulsion announced plans to develop a 10 kN-class indigenous jet engine to power larger UAVs, high-speed target drones, cruise missiles, and future advanced aerospace platforms.
For the Divyastra Mk3, DG Propulsion developed a jet engine optimised for loitering munition applications, offering high thrust-to-weight ratios and fuel efficiency suitable for extended endurance missions. During the maiden flight, the engine’s performance fully met all pre-defined parameters, confirming its suitability for operational deployment. This makes DG Propulsion the first Indian company to have its indigenous jet engine certified airborne on a domestically designed loitering munition.
Aero-engine development remains one of the most challenging sectors of aerospace engineering. India has historically depended on foreign suppliers for many small and medium-sized turbine engines used across military and civilian platforms. The emergence of domestic startups like DG Propulsion, capable of designing indigenous propulsion systems, represents a significant step toward reducing this dependence.
India’s Growing Loitering Munition Ecosystem
The Divyastra Mk3’s maiden flight does not exist in isolation. It is part of a broader surge in India’s indigenous loitering munition capabilities, driven by both government procurement and private-sector innovation.
Recent Defence Procurement Contracts
On 13 August 2026, the Ministry of Defence signed contracts worth approximately ₹1,577 crore with Tata Advanced Systems Ltd (TASL) and NIBE Private Limited for the procurement of 84 loitering munition systems comprising 840 munitions for the Indian Army under the Buy (Indian) Fast Track category. This procurement signals the Indian military’s growing appetite for loitering munitions as a standard part of its tactical toolkit.
The Indian Army has already begun raising dedicated Divyastra Batteries and Shaktibaan Regiments focused on swarm drones, loitering ammunition, and sensor-to-shooter networks. Platforms like the Divyastra Mk1 and Mk3 fit into this evolving structure, providing affordable, high-volume fire support that can be deployed in large numbers to saturate defences.
Indian Army’s Long-Range Ambitions
The Indian Army has also launched an ambitious programme to develop an indigenous family of long-range one-way attack drones capable of striking targets up to 1,000 kilometres away. This programme, initiated under the Make II category, seeks to build a sovereign precision-strike capability that could transform India’s offensive posture along its northern and western borders.
The Private Sector’s Growing Role
The Divyastra programme highlights the increasing role of private defence startups in India’s military modernisation. HoverIt, operating out of the UP Defence Industrial Corridor and benefiting from proximity to established players like BrahMos Aerospace, has demonstrated the ability to move from concept to flight trials in a remarkably short period. Other Indian defence startups, including Raphe mPhibr, IdeaForge, and Zen Technologies, are also advancing loitering munition and drone technologies, many with operational deployment experience during recent military operations.
The Indian government’s push for indigenous defence production has been a key enabler. The iDEX (Innovations for Defence Excellence) ecosystem now includes 676 startups, MSMEs, and innovators, with 58 prototypes worth ₹3,853 crore receiving procurement clearance and 45 procurement contracts valued at ₹2,326 crore already signed. The defence production target of ₹3 trillion by 2029 and the export target of ₹50,000 crore by 2028-29 underscore the scale of ambition.
Strategic Significance for India
Loitering munitions are reshaping modern warfare by compressing the time between target identification and engagement. A loitering munition already overhead can strike almost immediately, a capability that conventional artillery or even fast jet aircraft cannot match without significant coordination delays. For India, which faces active border tensions along both its northern and western frontiers, having an indigenous supply of these systems ensures operational readiness without dependence on foreign supply chains that could be disrupted during a conflict.
The ability to produce loitering munitions domestically also carries export potential. Countries in Southeast Asia, Africa, and the Middle East are seeking cost-effective, reliable alternatives to existing global suppliers, and India’s combination of indigenous design, manufacturing scale, and competitive pricing could position it as a significant exporter in this space.
The Way Forward
The Divyastra Mk3 will now undergo further validation trials before any consideration of induction into the Indian Armed Forces. The full performance envelope, including range, endurance, payload capacity, and operational speed under jet propulsion, will need to be systematically validated.
DG Propulsion’s plans for a 10 kN-class engine could open the door to even larger and more capable loitering munitions and unmanned combat aerial vehicles (UCAVs) in the future. As the company scales its manufacturing and testing infrastructure, the range of platforms that can be powered by indigenous engines will expand significantly.
The broader trajectory is clear. India is building a comprehensive domestic ecosystem for loitering munitions, from airframe design and AI-enabled targeting to jet propulsion and swarm coordination. The combination of private-sector agility, government procurement commitments, and the infrastructure of the defence industrial corridors is accelerating this process at a pace that few anticipated even five years ago.
Key Takeaways
- Kawa UAV Pvt Ltd (HoverIt) successfully conducted the maiden flight of the Divyastra Mk3 on 11 August 2026 at the UP Defence Industrial Corridor in Lucknow, making it India’s first indigenous jet-powered loitering munition.
- The Divyastra Mk3 was powered by an indigenous jet engine developed by DG Propulsion, a Delhi-based aerospace startup, with no imported components or foreign-sourced critical subsystems.
- The programme was initiated at the start of 2026 and reached maiden flight within a single calendar year, demonstrating rapid indigenous development capability.
- The Uttar Pradesh Defence Industrial Corridor (UPDIC), announced in the Union Budget 2018-19, spans six nodes (Lucknow, Kanpur, Jhansi, Aligarh, Agra, Chitrakoot) and has attracted investment proposals worth over ₹35,000 crore.
- On 13 August 2026, the Ministry of Defence signed contracts worth approximately ₹1,577 crore with Tata Advanced Systems Ltd and NIBE Private Limited for 84 loitering munition systems (840 munitions) for the Indian Army.
- DG Propulsion plans to develop a 10 kN-class indigenous jet engine to power larger UAVs, cruise missiles, and future advanced aerospace platforms, building on the validation achieved through the Divyastra Mk3 programme.
