Divyastra Mk3

Divyastra Mk3 Latest News

Kawa UAV Pvt. Ltd., a defence start-up based in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, on Sunday announced that it successfully conducted a maiden flight test of the Divyastra Mk3.

Why in News?

• The maiden flight 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.

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About Divyastra Mk3

• It is an indigenous loitering munition (kamikaze drone or suicide drone).
• It was developed by Lucknow-based defence startup Kawa UAV Pvt. Ltd  (HoverIt).
• It is designed to destroy high-value enemy assets, infrastructure, and personnel in a warzone by striking the target directly with an onboard explosive warhead.

Divyastra Mk3 Features

• It is powered by an indigenous jet-propulsion system developed by New Delhi-based DG Propulsion.
• While official specifications have not been disclosed, indicative data puts the UAV’s range at around 300-400 km, its speed at 250-300 kmph and its warhead capacity at up to 15-20 kg.
• It features autonomous flight control and AI-enabled target-engagement capabilities.

Why Does Jet Propulsion Matter?

• Its propulsion system sets it apart from many conventional drones and one-way attack UAVs because it uses a jet engine rather than a propeller-driven piston engine or an electric motor.
• Conventional UAVs such as Iran’s Shahed-136 use an internal-combustion engine to drive a propeller, an architecture that generally prioritises endurance, simplicity, and relatively low-cost operation. 
• Divyastra Mk3, by contrast, uses a compact indigenous jet engine designed to give it a higher speed. 
• This could reduce the time available for an adversary to detect, track, and engage the incoming weapon. 
• This makes the Mk3 closer in concept to a small jet aircraft than to a conventional propeller-driven UAV.

News: MC