The Drishti-10 Starliner is an Indian Medium Altitude Long Endurance UAV based on the Elbits Hermes 900, manufactured by Adani Defence and Aerospace for the Indian Armed Forces.[2]
| Drishti-10 UAV | |
|---|---|
| |
| A Drishti-10 UAV of the Indian Navy | |
| Role | Unmanned aerial vehicle |
| National origin | India |
| Manufacturer | Adani Aerospace and Defence |
| First flight | 9 February 2024[1] |
| Introduction | 2024 |
| Status | In Service |
| Primary user | Indian Navy |
| Produced | 2024-present |
| Number built | 22+ |
| Developed from | Elbit Hermes 900 |
The UAV reportedly has an indigenous content of over 70%.[3][4]
Development edit
Developed as an advanced intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) platform. It is an all-weather platform compatible with NATO's STANAG 4671 (Standardised Agreement 4671) Certification for the UAV system's airworthiness. It is built at the Adani Aerospace Park in Hyderabad.
Operational history edit
India edit
The Chief of Naval Staff Admiral R Hari Kumar flagged off the first indigenously manufactured Drishti 10 'Starliner' Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) for the Navy with 75 dignitaries in attendance.[5] The first UAV which would Leave from Hyderabad to Porbandar will be inducted into Naval Maritime Operations.[6] Speaking at the event, Director General Army Aviation Lt. Gen. A. K. Suri said that the army was looking to receive the Drishti-10s in the next 2–3 Months as well as they account for the 2 for each services bought under a Rapid Emergency Procurement Program in 2021.[7]
The Indian Army has plans to deploy the Drishti-10 in the Punjab sector, including the desert sector. The Indian Navy will position them in Porbandar to keep an eye on the maritime boundary with Pakistan; the drone has the capacity to fly for over 36 hours and it can cover a distance of around 2,000 km.[8]
Israel edit
It has been reported that over 20 Indian-made military UAVs have been covertly dispatched to the Israeli military.Amidst the Israel-Hamas war, the manufacturer is claimed to have sent Drishti 10 drones that can be used for both surveillance and airstrikes.The drones are manufactured by Hyderabad-based Adani-Elbit Advanced Systems India Ltd, a joint venture between India’s Adani Defence and Aerospace and Israel’s Elbit Systems.[9][10][11]
Operators edit
- Indian Navy - 2 delivered[12][13]
- Indian Army - 2 on order[14][6]
- Indian Air Force (planned)
Specifications edit
General characteristics
- Crew: 2 on ground
- Capacity: 450 kg (990 lb) payload[5]
- Length: 8.3 m (27 ft 3 in)
- Wingspan: 15 m (49 ft 3 in)
- Gross weight: 1,100 kg (2,425 lb)
- Powerplant: 1 × Rotax 916, 160 kW (210 hp)
Performance
- Maximum speed: 220 km/h (140 mph, 120 kn)
- Cruise speed: 112 km/h (70 mph, 60 kn)
- Endurance: 36 hours[5]
- Service ceiling: 9,100 m (30,000 ft)
References edit
- ^ "Indian Navy's Drishti 10 Drone Undertakes Maiden Flight". Western Naval Command. 9 February 2024.
- ^ "India's first indigenously manufactured UAV 'Drishti 10 Starliner' flagged off". Hindustan Times. 2024-01-10. Retrieved 2024-01-10.
- ^ https://www.adani.com/Newsroom/Media-Release/Navy-chief-unveils-first-indigenously-manufactured--Drishti-10-UAV-of-Adani-Defence-and-Aerospace
- ^ Philip, Snehesh Alex (2019-02-22). "Adani enters the UAV race with a 60% made-in-India drone". ThePrint. Retrieved 2024-01-14.
- ^ a b c Livemint (2024-01-10). "Adani Group unveils first indigenously manufactured Drishti 10 UAV". www.livemint.com. Retrieved 2024-01-10.
- ^ a b "Adani Group Unveils India's First Medium Altitude, Long Endurance Drone". NDTV.com. Retrieved 2024-01-10.
- ^ Peri, Dinakar (2024-01-10). "Autonomous systems becoming preferred choice in Order of Battle for nations across the globe: Navy Chief". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2024-01-10.
- ^ "Drishti-10 drones: Indian Army to deploy Drishti-10 drones near Pakistan border in Punjab". The Economic Times. Retrieved 2024-01-15.
- ^ Desk, Online (2024-04-09). "Amidst war in Gaza, Adani-Elbit exporting drones to Israel: Reports". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 2024-04-17.
- ^ a b "India-Made Drones In Gaza? New Delhi Delivers 'Killer' Hermes 900 To Israel | Report". Hindustan Times. 2024-02-13. Retrieved 2024-04-17.
- ^ a b Ramachandran, R (17 April 2024). "India's Refusal to Back UN Arms Embargo on Israel May Be Linked to Adani Drone Exports". The Wire. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
- ^ "Navy gets first India-made long endurance Drishti 10 Starliner drone". India Today. Retrieved 2024-01-11.
- ^ "India's first indigenously manufactured UAV 'Drishti 10 Starliner' flagged off". Hindustan Times. 2024-01-10. Retrieved 2024-01-11.
- ^ "India orders Hermes 900 for army, navy". Janes.com. Retrieved 2024-01-11.