India Successfully Tests Divyastra Mk3, Its First Indigenous Jet-Powered Loitering Munition
India achieved a major breakthrough in its domestic defense sector on August 11, 2026, with the successful maiden flight test of the ‘Divyastra Mk3’, the country’s first indigenously developed jet-powered loitering munition.
The test, conducted at an airstrip in Uttar Pradesh, verified the flight dynamics and performance of the platform’s locally built turbojet engine. Developed by Indian startup DG Propulsion, the engine operated within all targeted parameters during the trial flight.
The aircraft platform was designed and manufactured by Lucknow-based defense startup Kawa UAV (operating under the brand HoverIt) within the Uttar Pradesh Defence Industrial Corridor. The development team moved the system from concept to a flight-tested prototype in under eight months.
🇮🇳 मेड-इन-इंडिया जेट ड्रोन ‘दिव्यास्त्र Mk3’ ने भरी उड़ान
— RT Hindi (@RT_hindi_) August 16, 2026
Kawa UAV के मुताबिक, दिव्यास्त्र Mk3 जेट इंजन से चलने वाला लोइटरिंग म्यूनिशन है। इसे सटीक हमलों के लिए बनाया गया है।
कंपनी का दावा है कि इसका डिजाइन, इंजीनियरिंग और सफल परीक्षण उड़ान पूरी तरह भारत में किया गया है।(ANI)… pic.twitter.com/A9UK6HrM8p
Unlike conventional propeller-driven loitering munitions, the Divyastra Mk3 uses a jet propulsion setup designed to deliver higher speed and faster response times against time-sensitive targets. The entire platform, including the airframe, guidance, flight control software, and propulsion engine, was built entirely without imported critical subsystems.
The achievement aligns with ongoing efforts under the ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ initiative to build self-reliance in critical military technologies. By completing this test flight, domestic engineers and research teams have demonstrated the capability to produce advanced, jet-powered autonomous strike platforms within national borders. Further operational testing will follow to evaluate navigation, payload integration, and precision target engagement capabilities.
