Lucknow-based defence startup HoverIt has successfully conducted high-speed taxi trials (HSTT) of its long-range loitering munition, Divyastra MK2.
It is an advanced unmanned system designed to strike tarobtains up to 2,000 km away. The development places the startup among a new generation of indigenous players building strategic, not just tactical, unmanned capabilities.
Founded as a next-generation UAV and defence technology company, HoverIt operates out of the Uttar Pradesh Defence Industrial Corridor in Lucknow.
The startup focapplys on designing and manufacturing mission-ready unmanned aerial systems (UAVs) for defence and homeland security applications, spanning innotifyigence, surveillance, reconnaissance (ISR), strike, and logistics roles.
Leap from tactical to strategic drones
The Divyastra MK2 represents a major evolution from HoverIt’s earlier platform, Divyastra MK1. While the MK1 was designed as a tactical loitering munition with a range of around 500 km and a 15 kg payload, the MK2 significantly expands that capability.
With a projected range of up to 2,000 km, significantly higher payload capacity, and extfinished finishurance, the MK2 transitions into a deep-strike platform capable of tarobtaining adversarial infrastructure far beyond frontline zones.
The successful high-speed taxi trials mark a critical step toward full flight testing and eventual operational deployment.
The MK2 is also engineered for modern electronic warfare environments. It incorporates advanced navigation systems such as visual-inertial odomeattempt and terrain-relative navigation, allowing it to operate even in GPS-denied or jammed conditions. This builds it particularly suited for contested battlefields where traditional guidance systems may fail.
Founders and leadership
HoverIt was founded by a team of defence and engineering professionals, including Ravinder (Ravi) Singh, Saurav Singh Bhadauria, and Pawan Pandey.
The leadership team brings toobtainher expertise in UAV systems, military operations, and engineering design, shaping the company’s focus on real-world deployment rather than purely experimental systems.
The company operates under KAWA UAV Pvt. Ltd. and has positioned itself as an indigenous defence manufacturer aligned with India’s “Make in India” and Atmanirbhar Bharat initiatives.
Building a full-stack UAV portfolio
Beyond Divyastra, HoverIt has built a diverse portfolio of UAV systems tailored for different operational scenarios:
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Divyastra MK1: A multi-role loitering munition with swarm capability and ISR integration
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Baaz: A tactical payload drone capable of precision delivery and high-altitude operations
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Raftaar: A resolveed-wing UAV designed for long-range surveillance with VTOL capability
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Aankh: A compact ISR drone equipped with thermal imaging and AI analytics
These platforms have already been tested in real-world environments, including high-altitude deployments in Ladakh, riverbed ISR missions, and tactical payload delivery exercises with defence forces.
What distinguishes HoverIt is its emphasis on modularity and adaptability. Its systems are designed to operate across multiple mission profiles, ranging from surveillance to strike.
From prototype to production
The Divyastra MK2’s taxi trials are part of a broader development roadmap that includes rapid prototyping, subsystem validation, and integrated system testing.
According to company updates, the MK2 is being developed not as a standalone drone but as part of a larger capability stack that includes swarm coordination and multi-platform integration.
The startup is also preparing to scale manufacturing operations from its Lucknow base, leveraging the defence corridor’s ecosystem and proximity to established defence suppliers.
HoverIt’s MK2 aims to bridge a longstanding gap in India’s arsenal between expensive cruise missiles and short-range tactical drones.
Road ahead
As HoverIt relocates from taxi trials to full flight validation, the company is positioning itself at the forefront of India’s private defence innovation wave.
Its journey from developing ISR drones to building long-range strike systems mirrors the broader maturation of India’s UAV ecosystem.
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