India’s Divyastra Mk3 Completes First Flight: A Jet-Powered Indigenous Loitering Munition

Lucknow-based defence startup Kawa UAV, operating under the brand HoverIt and headquartered in the Uttar Pradesh Defence Industrial Corridor, has successfully completed the maiden flight of its Divyastra Mk3 loitering munition, powered by a fully indigenous jet engine. The test took place on August 11 at a drone testing airstrip in Uttar Pradesh, with the munition launched from a moving ground platform.

At a Glance

The maiden flight took place on August 11 at a test airstrip in Uttar Pradesh.
The engine is a fully indigenous jet powerplant built by India’s DG Propulsion.
The programme launched at the start of 2026 and reached flight in under eight months.
The system was launched from a moving platform after reaching the required speed.
India is presenting it as the first jet-powered loitering munition under its “Indigenously Designed, Developed and Manufactured” (IDDM) category.

Background

Divyastra Mk3 is the latest addition to India’s fast-growing indigenous drone and loitering-munition push. What stands out about the programme is its speed: the transition from blank-page concept to a flying weapon system took under eight months, without reliance on foreign critical subsystems or imported jet engines. Indian defence media report the system is designed for extended low-altitude loiter time, target dwell and precision strike, with the jet engine offering higher speed and range than propeller-driven electric equivalents. Kawa UAV is emerging as one of several fast-scaling startups benefiting from India’s push to favour indigenous suppliers for its armed forces.

What It Means for Türkiye

Türkiye already holds a strong position in the loitering-munition market with STM’s Alpagu and Togan, as well as Kargu-2, all of which are exported to a growing list of customers. India flying a jet-powered, fully indigenous loitering munition within eight months signals that New Delhi is strengthening its ambitions both to meet its own requirements and to eventually compete in export markets. As mid-income countries continue to shop for value-for-money drone and munition options, this development is an early signal that India could emerge as a future export rival for Turkish manufacturers — and a reminder of why continued R&D investment in jet-powered loitering systems remains important for Türkiye’s own catalogue.

FAQ

What is Divyastra Mk3?
A loitering munition developed by Kawa UAV (HoverIt), powered by a jet engine and designed, developed and manufactured entirely in India.

Why does the jet engine matter?
It offers higher speed and range compared to propeller-driven electric systems, making the platform more capable against both strike and time-sensitive targets.

When will it enter service?
Only the maiden flight has been completed so far; further test and evaluation phases are expected before any induction into service.