Indian Army conducted an operational demonstration of the indigenous Divyastra Mk-1 tactical loitering munition in Jodhpur

Indian Army conducted an operational demonstration of the indigenous Divyastra Mk-1 tactical loitering munition in Jodhpur

¨     Indian Army conducted an operational demonstration of the indigenous Divyastra Mk-1 tactical loitering munition in Jodhpur on 1 June 2026.

¨     The system was developed by Hoverit, a defence technology startup based in Lucknow.

¨     It reportedly contains 95% indigenous components.

¨     The Divyastra Mk-1 is an AI-powered tactical unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV).

¨     It is designed for intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance (ISR), and precision-strike missions.

¨     The system has an operational range of up to 500 km.

¨     It can remain airborne for up to 5 hours.

¨     Its attack speed ranges between 300–400 km/h.

¨     It has a 15-kg payload capacity.

¨     During the demonstration, the system was launched multiple times from a vehicle-mounted mobile launcher.

¨     It was successfully validated for dynamic ISR missions under field conditions.

¨     The trials were conducted in desert temperatures exceeding 50°C.

¨     A loitering munition is an aerial weapon system that can remain over a target area before attacking.

¨     The Divyastra Mk-1 incorporates AI and swarm capabilities.

¨     These features enable autonomous navigation, target recognition, and coordinated strike operations.

¨     The system represents a significant step forward in India’s indigenous defence technology and self-reliance in advanced unmanned combat systems.