In a significant boost to India’s indigenous defence ecosystem, the Indian Army witnessed an operational demonstration of the Divyastra Mk-1 tactical loitering munition developed by Hoverit in Jodhpur, Rajasthan.
The UAV was successfully launched multiple times from a vehicle-mounted mobile launcher, demonstrating rapid deployment, battlefield mobility, and tactical readiness under field conditions. The exercise validated its capability to support dynamic Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) and reconnaissance missions in real operational environments.
Divyastra Mk-1
- Type: Indigenous tactical UAV / loitering munition
- Role: Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance (ISR) and Precision Strike
- Designed for long-duration surveillance, target acquisition, and tactical engagement
Key Features
Operational Capabilities
- Supports ISR and reconnaissance missions
- Enables precision strike operations
- Can operate in diverse mission profiles
Launch & Deployment
- Vehicle-mounted mobile launcher
- Enables rapid deployment and battlefield mobility
- Suitable for dynamic combat environments
Technical Specifications
- Range: Up to 500 km
- Endurance: Up to 5 hours
- Speed: 300–400 km/h (attack speed)
- Payload Capacity: 15 kg
Advanced Systems
- AI-enabled operations
- Swarm capability for coordinated missions
- Configurable with:
- EO/IR payloads (Electro-Optical/Infrared)
- Communication relay systems
- Mission-specific warheads
Indigenous Content & Cost Advantage
- ~95% indigenous components (Mk-1 & Mk-2 series)
- Localisation of critical subsystems:
- Data links
- Composite materials
- Sensor optics
- Propulsion systems
Benefits
- Costs ~one-third of comparable foreign loitering munitions
- Reduces dependence on expensive imports
- Avoids supply chain bottlenecks and import premiums
- Enables large-scale procurement and deployment
Strategic Importance of Loitering Munitions
- More cost-effective than traditional cruise missiles
- Designed for mass deployment
- Supports swarm attacks to overwhelm enemy air defence systems
- Allows sustained combat operations without excessive costs
Strategic Advantages of Indigenisation
- Insulates supply chains from global geopolitical disruptions
- Eliminates dependence on foreign regulatory restrictions and licensing
- Opens avenues for defence exports
- Strengthens Aatmanirbhar Bharat in defence manufacturing
Significance
- Marks a shift toward affordable, scalable warfare systems
- Enhances India’s capabilities in modern drone warfare
- Strengthens ISR, surveillance, and precision strike ecosystem
- Supports future network-centric and AI-driven combat systems