Drishti-10
| 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 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]
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.