India reveals first indigenous MALE drone named Drishti 10 Starliner.

As reported by ANI on January 10, 2024, the Indian Navy has made its first acquisition of domestically produced Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) drones. Indian Navy Chief Admiral R Hari Kumar unveiled the Drishti 10 Starliner Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) in Hyderabad on the aforementioned date. This UAV is an indigenous variant of the Hermes 900 UAV developed by Elbit Systems of Israel, with a substantial portion, over 70%, being of Indian origin.

Follow Air Recognition on Google News at this link

The Drishti 10 Starliner is an indigenous variant of the Hermes-900 UAV developed by Elbit Systems of Israel, with a substantial portion, over 70%, being of Indian origin. (Picture source: screenshot of a Twitter video)

Manufactured by Adani Defence and Aerospace, the Drishti 10 Starliner has been designed for advanced intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) purposes. It has an endurance of up to 36 hours and can carry a payload of 450 kg. Of note is its NATO's STANAG 4671 certification, enabling it to operate in both segregated and unsegregated airspace. Following its unveiling, the UAV is scheduled to be transported to Porbandar for integration into naval maritime operations. The training of naval personnel is near completion in Hyderabad.

Adani Aerospace Park plays a crucial role in this development. As India's first private-sector final assembly line for military-grade unmanned systems, tactical and loitering drones, it integrates various essential components such as carbon aerostructures, electronics, avionics, and EO IR (electro-optical/infrared) payloads. This contribution has led to the achievement of over 70% indigenization in the production of the Drishti 10 Starliner, based on the Israeli Hermes 900 MALE (Medium Altitude Long Range) platform.

The unveiling ceremony witnessed the presence of 75 dignitaries, including Lieutenant General Ajay Suri, the Director General of Army Aviation. Lieutenant General Suri disclosed that both the Indian Navy and Indian Army have placed orders for two Drishti 10 drones to fulfill the increasing demand for satellite communication-enabled drones. Additionally, he announced that the Army is expecting the delivery of Drishti-10s within the next 2-3 months under the Rapid Emergency Procurement Program initiated in 2021.

Regarding its specifications, the Drishti 10 Starliner UAV has a length of 8.3 meters, a wingspan of 15 meters, and a gross weight of 1,100 kg. It features an Automatic Take Off and Landing (ATOL) system, multiple hardpoints, and a 250 kg modular internal installation bay. The powerplant features a Rotax 916 engine generating 160 kW (210 hp), providing a maximum speed of 220 km/h, a cruise speed of 112 km/h, and a service ceiling of 9,100 meters (30,000 feet).