Raghu Vamsi Aerospace Unveils India’s First Jet-Powered Kamikaze Drone ‘Astra-100’ at Paris Air Show

In a proud moment for India’s aerospace and defence industry, Hyderabad-based Raghu Vamsi Aerospace Group made history by unveiling the country’s first jet-powered Kamikaze UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) at the prestigious 55th International Paris Air Show. The drone, named Astra-100, represents a major leap forward in India’s indigenous defence technology, showcasing the nation’s growing expertise in autonomous combat systems.

What is the Astra-100?

The Astra-100 is a fixed-wing, jet-powered drone developed under Raghu Vamsi’s deep-tech brand ARROBOT. It’s specially designed for autonomous kamikaze missions, where the UAV acts as a precision-guided, explosive-laden aircraft targeting high-value enemy assets such as radars, air defence systems, or command centers.

What makes Astra-100 stand out is its fully indigenous design — from its flight control system and propulsion unit to telemetry and operational software. This reflects India’s growing ability to build sophisticated combat drones without relying on foreign technology.

Astra-100 Specifications:

• Type: Jet-powered, fixed-wing Kamikaze UAV

• Range: 200 kilometers

• Top Speed: 450 km/h

• Role: Autonomous offensive missions (kamikaze strikes)

• Propulsion: Indigenous micro turbojet engine

• Status: Successfully test-flown earlier in 2025

Astra-100 completed its trial flights successfully earlier this year, achieving all mission parameters and proving its readiness for operational deployment. It marks a new chapter in India’s offensive UAV capabilities, moving beyond surveillance and reconnaissance drones to fully autonomous strike systems.

India’s First Indigenous Micro Turbojet Engine

Alongside the UAV, Raghu Vamsi also unveiled a fully indigenous 40 KGF micro turbojet engine, purpose-built for UAVs and cruise missiles. This engine is part of a new engine family featuring 14, 19, 25, and 40 KGF variants, all tested and validated at the company’s Hyderabad facility in the presence of DRDO officials.

This achievement marks a major milestone for India in the field of propulsion technology, which has long been a challenging area for indigenous development. The 40 KGF engine will not only power drones like Astra-100 but can also be adapted for use in future cruise missiles and loitering munitions.

Expanding Global Presence

Raghu Vamsi Aerospace is also extending its global footprint. Recently, the company acquired WMT Precision LLC, a 40-year-old aerospace manufacturing firm based in Syracuse, USA, specializing in fuel nozzles for global aerospace leaders.

Additionally, it bought PMC Group (UK), marking the company’s entry into the oil and gas component sector, especially high-performance nickel alloy parts.

Building India’s Largest Aerospace Manufacturing Hub

To support its expanding operations, Raghu Vamsi is developing a state-of-the-art 250,000 sq ft facility in Hardware Park, Hyderabad. Set to open by early 2026, the facility will house divisions for:

• High-precision machining for global OEMs

• Sub-assemblies for missile systems

• Final assembly for engines, UAVs, and unmanned ground vehicles

This new facility is expected to generate over 1,000 skilled jobs, boosting India’s aerospace manufacturing ecosystem and contributing to the country’s Atmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India) mission in defence production.

A Proud Milestone for India

The unveiling of Astra-100 and the 40 KGF turbojet engine isn’t just a technological achievement — it’s a clear signal that India is rapidly progressing towards self-sufficiency in high-end defence systems. Raghu Vamsi Aerospace’s innovations position India as an emerging force in autonomous warfare and propulsion systems, and a serious contender on the global aerospace stage.

This achievement at the Paris Air Show highlights India’s determination to lead through indigenous innovation, strategic international acquisitions, and a growing domestic manufacturing base — a future-ready combination for the nation’s aerospace ambitions.