India achieved another milestone in defence self-reliance as the Indian Army successfully demonstrated the indigenous Divyastra Mk-1 loitering munition, showcasing advanced surveillance and strike capabilities.

BulletsIn

• The Indian Army conducted an operational demonstration of the indigenous Divyastra Mk-1 loitering munition in Jodhpur on 1 June 2026 under real field conditions.
• Developed by Lucknow-based startup Hoverit, the platform reportedly contains nearly 95% indigenous components, supporting India’s defence manufacturing and technological self-reliance goals.
• Divyastra Mk-1 is an AI-powered tactical unmanned aerial vehicle designed for intelligence gathering, surveillance operations, reconnaissance missions, and precision target engagement.
• The system offers an operational range of up to 500 kilometres, endurance of 5 hours, and payload carrying capacity of 15 kilograms.
• During the demonstration, multiple launches were carried out from a vehicle-mounted mobile launcher, validating rapid deployment and battlefield adaptability capabilities.
• The platform successfully performed intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions in desert environments where temperatures exceeded 50 degrees Celsius.
• Advanced artificial intelligence and swarm capabilities enable autonomous navigation, target recognition, coordinated attacks, and enhanced operational effectiveness during military missions.
• Hoverit is currently developing Divyastra Mk-2, expected to feature a strike range between 1,500 and 2,000 kilometres with larger payload capacity.