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Type of aircraft From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Drishti-10 Starliner is an Indian medium-altitude long-endurance UAV based on the Israeli Elbit 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]
The medium-altitude long-endurance (MALE) unmanned aerial vehicle Drishti-10 Starliner is a 70 percent indigenously built version of Israel's Hermes 900—manufactured by Elbit Systems. The carbon composite aerostructures for Hermes 900 and Hermes 450 are manufactured at Adani Elbit UAV Complex at Hyderabad. The Hermes 900 is an advanced intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) platform with 36 hours endurance and 450 kilogram payload capacity. It is an all-weather platform with NATO STANAG 4671 certification, which can be used to fly in both segregated and unsegregated airspace.[5] It has the capacity to fly over a distance of around 2,000 kilometres in one deployment. It was indigenously made in India with over 70 percent content after Adani Defence and Aerospace signed a deal with Elbit Systems for transfer of technology for drones from Israel to India.[6]
In December 2018, Adani-Elbit Advanced Systems India Ltd., a joint venture company between Adani Defence and Aerospace and Israel's Elbit Systems was formed.[7] A defense manufacturing facility was built in Hyderabad.[8] It was the only Hermes 900 production facility outside Israel. It was also India's first private UAV manufacturing facility.[9]
The inaugural Drishti-10 Starliner was flagged off by the Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral R. Hari Kumar for the Navy in January 2024. The first UAV left from Hyderabad to Porbandar to be inducted into naval maritime operations.[10][11] In February 2024, India exported 20 Hermes 900 UAVs to Israel.[7][12]
The Indian Army's orders were expected to arrive within two to three months.[5] An Army official confirmed that they plan to deploy it in Bathinda Air Force Station of Punjab, to carry out missions in the desert sector and northern Punjab.[6][13] The first of the two drones ordered by the Army would arrive on 18 June 2024.[14]
As of 31 August 2024, the drone was not delivered to the Indian Army. However, an image revealed by OSINT sources hinted that the first UAV, registered IA 901, would be delivered soon.[15][16]
General characteristics
Performance
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