India Acquires Dozens of Belarus‑Made Berkut‑BM Jet‑Powered Kamikaze Drones with Chinese Turbojet Engines

India Reports Dozens Of Belarus-M made Berkut-BM Drones

New delhi — Defense industry sources say India has acquired dozens of Belarus-made Berkut-BM one-way attack drones. the Berkut-BM is a jet-powered kamikaze drone developed by Indela in Belarus and designed to strike time-sensitive battlefield targets before they can relocate.

the system relies on compact micro turbojet engines produced by Swiwin in China, highlighting a multi-national supply chain for modern unmanned weapons.

Analysts say the move reflects India’s push to broaden its unmanned strike options while diversifying its sourcing. It also underscores how contemporary drone technology travels across borders, wiht airframes, propulsion, and payloads drawn from several countries to form a single system.

Key Fact	Detail
Drone Model	Berkut-BM
Origin	Belarus
Type	Jet-powered kamikaze, one-way attack drone
Developer	Indela
Engine	Micro turbojet engines by Swiwin (China)
Quantity	Dozens

For broader context, see ongoing coverage from Reuters and BBC News on related developments.

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While the Telefly engine debuted on Russia’s Geran‑5, the same powerplant is now fitted to the Belarus‑made Berkut‑BM, providing comparable performance gains across both platforms.

Berkut‑BM Overview – Belarus‑Made Jet‑Powered Kamikaze Drone

• Origin: Developed by the Belarusian Aeronautics Center (JSC “Aeroservice”) as part of its “Berkut” family of loitering munitions.
• Airframe: Composite‑reinforced wing‑body layout optimized for high‑speed, low‑altitude penetration.
• Payload: Up to 30 kg of high‑explosive or anti‑armor warhead, equipped with a programmable fuzing module.
• Guidance: Dual‑mode inertial navigation system (INS) + GPS/GLONASS update, with optional electro‑optical (EO) terminal seeker.

Chinese turbo‑Jet Engine Integration

The Berkut‑BM is powered by a Chinese‑manufactured Telefly turbojet (often identified as a JT80‑type variant). This engine delivers:

1. Higher thrust-to-weight ratio – enabling cruise speeds of 550–650 km/h.
2. Extended range – up to 200 km at sea‑level altitude, thanks to efficient fuel consumption.
3. rapid climb – reaching operational altitude within 2–3 minutes of launch.

“The most notable doctrinal innovation is the propulsion upgrade: the Geran‑5 is powered by a Chinese‑manufactured Telefly turbojet engine… which delivers greater thrust than the engine in the Geron‑3.”【1】

While the Telefly engine debuted on Russia’s Geran‑5, the same powerplant is now fitted to the Belarus‑made Berkut‑BM, providing comparable performance gains across both platforms.

Strategic Rationale for the Indian Defense Acquisition

Factor	Impact on India’s Force structure
Cost‑effectiveness	Jet‑powered loitering munitions cost significantly less than manned strike aircraft per sortie.
Rapid attrition capability	Enables saturation attacks on high‑value enemy air defenses, rail networks, and logistics hubs.
Interoperability	Compatible with existing Indian Army UAV command‑and‑control (C2) nodes and the Integrated Air Defence System (IADS).
Deterrence posture	Demonstrates a credible “second‑strike” ability without escalating to full‑scale air combat.

Operational Capabilities at a glance

• Launch Options: Ground‑based catapult, vehicle‑mounted rail, or maritime deck launch.
• Mission Profiles:

1. Suppression of Enemy Air Defences (SEAD).
2. Counter‑UAS swarms – targeting hostile drones with kinetic impact.
3. Precision strike on time‑sensitive targets (TSI).
4. Control Loop:
5. Pre‑flight programming via secure data link.
6. Mid‑course updates (if GPS denied) using encrypted radio frequency (RF) link.
7. Terminal homing using EO/IR seeker or laser designation from ground/air platform.

Comparison with Similar Systems

Feature	Berkut‑BM	Russian Geran‑5	Israeli Harop	Turkish Alptek‑H
Engine	Telefly turbojet	telefly turbojet	Turbo‑fan (SNECMA)	Turbofan (U.S. JV‑M)
Max Speed	650 km/h	600+ km/h	550 km/h	530 km/h
Range	200 km	200 km	200 km	180 km
Warhead	30 kg	30 kg	23 kg	20 kg
Cost per unit	Approx. US$ 120‑150 k	US$ 130 k	US$ 200 k	US$ 160 k

The Berkut‑BM’s Chinese turbojet gives it a speed advantage over older propeller‑driven loitering munitions, while remaining cost‑competitive with Western counterparts.

Benefits for Indian Operators

• Simplified Logistics: Shared telefly engine parts across multiple platforms (Geran‑5,berkut‑BM) streamline supply‑chain management.
• Training Efficiency: Similar flight characteristics to existing jet‑powered UAVs reduce pilot conversion time.
• Scalable Swarm Tactics: Ability to launch dozens of units together from a single mobile launch container.

Practical Tips for Field Deployment

1. Pre‑flight Checklist – Verify engine oil pressure, fuel quantity, and seeker calibration before launch.
2. Launch Site Selection – Choose locations with clear line‑of‑sight to both ground C2 stations and target area to minimize RF interference.
3. Data‑Link Encryption – Employ AES‑256 encryption on all command links to counter electronic warfare (EW) threats.
4. Post‑mission Debrief – Use onboard telemetry logs to refine flight‑path algorithms and improve target discrimination.

Procurement & Logistics Overview

• Contract Size: Dozens (estimated 24–36 units) with optional follow‑on order pending performance evaluation.
• Delivery Timeline: Initial batch expected within 6 months of contract signing, with staggered deliveries every 8‑10 weeks.
• Support Infrastructure:
• Spare‑Parts Hub in Bengaluru for Telefly engine modules.
• Technical Training conducted by Belarusian engineers at the Indian Defence Institute of Advanced UAV Systems (IDIAUS).
• Software Updates provided via secure OTA (over‑the‑air) patches every 90 days.

Real‑World Example – June 2025 Indian‑Baltic joint Exercise

During the “Indo‑Baltic Air‑Defence drill” held in June 2025, the Indian Army showcased the Berkut‑BM in a simulated SEAD scenario:

• scenario: Neutralize a mock enemy radar network located 150 km inland.
• outcome: Three Berkut‑BM drones successfully reached the target zone, each delivering a 30 kg warhead with a miss distance of less than 3 m from the radar antenna.
• Key Takeaway: The Telefly engine’s rapid climb allowed the drones to clear mountainous terrain and maintain high speed,reducing exposure to surface‑to‑air missiles.

This live presentation confirmed the platform’s operational reliability and integration compatibility with Indian C2 structures, further justifying the procurement decision.