Adani Defense and Aerospace recently delivered a second Drishti-10 Starliner surveillance drone to the Indian Navy, enhancing the country’s maritime monitoring capabilities and strengthening efforts to combat piracy risks.
The second Drishti-10, a long-range variant of Israel’s Hermes 900 medium-altitude drone, has been inducted into naval operations at Porbandar in Gujarat, following the successful deployment of the first drone earlier this year.
Manufactured by Adani Defense and Aerospace at its Hyderabad-based facility, the Drishti 10 Starliner UAV is a sophisticated intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance platform that boasts a 36-hour endurance and a payload of 450 kg, making it an invaluable asset to naval operations.
The Drishti 10 is the only all-weather military platform that has NATO STANAG 4671 airworthiness certification for the UAV system. This certification allows the platform to fly in both segregated and non-segregated airspace.
According to sources, Drishti 10 offers permanent multi-payload capabilities, fully autonomous features and Satcom-based operations on the horizon. It serves as a force amplifier for the Indian Navy, providing effective monitoring of vast maritime areas and enhancing situational awareness.
This marks the historic integration of advanced payload suites on the Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) platform, giving the Indian Navy unique maritime surveillance capabilities for the first time. Adani Defense has also supplied the Drishti-10 Starliner to the Indian Army. The Indian Navy received the first Drishti-10 Starliner in January, followed by the Army’s second delivery in June.
The first of two drones ordered by the Indian Army will be deployed at the Bhatinda base in Punjab to monitor the entire western border with Pakistan.
The successful flight operations of the Drishti 10 at Porbandar and Bhatinda by the Indian Navy and the Indian Army represent a significant advance in India’s unmanned defense capabilities.
Drishti 10, India’s only indigenous UAV capable of operating at altitudes of over 32,000 feet with high payload and enhanced endurance, has demonstrated its resilience in challenging environments including harsh terrains and the Himalayan climate. This performance highlights India’s innovative capacity and strength under pressure, demonstrating our commitment to protecting and advancing our strategic interests.
Also, the Drishti 10 Starliner represents more than just a singular achievement – it represents a larger vision for the future of India’s defense sector. In a tight timeline of less than three years, Adani Defense has achieved what normally takes five to six years in the industry, successfully delivering MALE UAV capabilities to both the Indian Army and Navy.
During a recent visit to the Porbandar base, Rear Admiral Janak Bewli, VSM, Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Air), observed the ongoing operations and interacted with the Adani Defense Team led by AVM KVR Raju, VM (Retd), UAV Technical Chief and rockets.
The integration of this technology marks a pivotal moment in India’s quest for self-sufficiency in defense innovation, showcasing the seamless partnership between Adani Defense and the Indian Navy. This cooperation underscores our shared commitment to protecting maritime interests and represents an important step in the direction of national security.
(With inputs from PTI)
