New Delhi : The Indian Army has inducted dozens of Berkut-BM jet-powered kamikaze drones from Belarus, marking a significant expansion of its long-range precision strike capability and underlining India’s growing focus on unmanned warfare systems.
The Berkut-BM differs from most existing loitering munitions due to its jet propulsion, enabling much higher speeds than propeller-driven drones. According to available technical data, the drone has an operational range of up to 150 kilometres and can reach speeds of around 410 kilometres per hour, allowing it to strike time-sensitive and well-defended targets with minimal warning.
Designed as a one-way attack unmanned aerial vehicle, the Berkut-BM kamikaze drone is powered by a compact turbojet engine, prioritising speed over endurance. Its flight endurance is understood to be limited to several tens of minutes, consistent with other jet-powered loitering munitions. The system reportedly uses inertial and satellite navigation during the cruise phase, with electro-optical or infrared sensors guiding the drone during the terminal attack phase. An integrated explosive warhead enables precision strikes against armoured vehicles, air-defence systems, command posts and critical infrastructure.
Jet-powered Berkut drones have previously been observed during the Russia–Ukraine war. Open-source intelligence imagery and battlefield recoveries indicated their use in strike roles, demonstrating how high-speed kamikaze drones can compress enemy reaction times and complicate air-defence interception. At the same time, the conflict exposed their vulnerabilities, particularly to electronic warfare, short-range air-defence systems and layered counter-drone measures.
For the Indian Army, the Berkut-BM provides an additional option for deep precision strikes, counter-battery missions and suppression of enemy air defences without risking manned aircraft. While official details on quantities, deployment units and timelines remain undisclosed, the acquisition reflects a broader trend toward integrating fast, expendable unmanned strike systems alongside artillery, missiles and conventional UAVs in future high-intensity conflict scenarios.
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