Kawa UAV’s Divyastra Mk3 Conducts Maiden Flight Test

Kawa UAV Pvt. Ltd., a defence start-up based in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, announces that it has successfully conducted the maiden flight test of the Divyastra Mk3. The flight test marks the first instance in India’s defence history of an indigenously designed, developed, and manufactured jet-powered loitering munition fitted with a fully indigenous powerplant taking to the skies.

Divyastra Mk3 (Loitering Munition):

Dimension	Key Details
Category	Divyastra Mk3 comprises an indigenous loitering munition, also described as a kamikaze drone or suicide drone.
Developer	Divyastra Mk3 is developed by Lucknow-based defence startup Kawa UAV Pvt. Ltd (HoverIt).
Maiden flight test	Divyastra Mk3 has successfully conducted a maiden flight test.
Defence-history first	The maiden flight provides for the first instance in India’s defence history of an indigenously designed, developed, and manufactured jet-powered loitering munition fitted with a fully indigenous powerplant taking to the skies.
Designed role	Divyastra Mk3 is designed to destroy high-value enemy assets, infrastructure, and personnel in a warzone by striking the target directly with an onboard explosive warhead.
Propulsion system	Divyastra Mk3 is powered by an indigenous jet-propulsion system developed by New Delhi-based DG Propulsion.
Indicative performance data	Indicative data puts the range at around 300-400 km, the speed at 250-300 kmph, and the warhead capacity at up to 15-20 kg.
Onboard capabilities	Divyastra Mk3 features autonomous flight control and AI-enabled target-engagement capabilities.
Propulsion distinction	Its propulsion system uses a jet engine rather than a propeller-driven piston engine or an electric motor.
Concept comparison	Divyastra Mk3 uses a compact indigenous jet engine designed to give it a higher speed, making it closer in concept to a small jet aircraft than to a conventional propeller-driven UAV.