Indian Navy Unveils 'Drishti 10 Starliner' Unmanned Aerial Vehicle

India’s Navy chief, Adm. R. Hari Kumar, on Wednesday, unveiled the first-ever indigenously built Drishti-10 starliner medium altitude long endurance (abbreviated MALE) drone, meant to be inducted into the naval maritime operations to boost the navy’s capability to have a close eye on strategic waters of the Indian Ocean.

Built by the Adani Defence and Aerospace exclusively for the navy in Hyderabad, the Drishti-10 unmanned aerial vehicle (abbreviated UAV) is an indigenous version of the Hermes-900 UAV of Israel’s Elbit Systems has more than 70% indigenous content.

The navy’s chief took the successful delivery of the first-ever Drishti 10 Starliner. The UAV will fly to Porbandar from Hyderabad to be pressed into the naval maritime operations. The navy operates tactical drones besides four advanced High Altitude Long Endurance (abbreviated HALE) drones popular as “Sea Guardians”.

#WATCH | Indian Navy chief Admiral R Hari Kumar unveils the Drishti 10 Starliner drones manufactured by Adani Defence in Hyderabad.

The firm said the drone is an advanced Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) platform with 36 hours of endurance, 450 kgs payload… pic.twitter.com/tfdSYImRuX

— ANI (@ANI) January 10, 2024

Video Credits: ANI/Twitter

Emphasizing the capability of these drones in modern warfare, Adm. Kumar said that autonomous systems were emerging as a preferred option in the Order of Battle for nations all over the globe. He noted that Drishti would be a highly potent force multiplier, adding even more capability and credibility to intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (abbreviated ISR) missions spanning the Indian Ocean region.

Four Drishti 10 Starliners have reportedly been ordered, two for the army and two for the navy, based on information from sources in the defence ministry. However, the armed forces also intend to purchase roughly 150 MALE drones.

The Indian Navy has already expanded the number of warships stationed for anti-piracy and anti-drone actions in the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Aden in response to the recent wave of attacks on merchant vessels in the region. This is done to maintain a deterrent presence in the strategically important areas. To demonstrate its naval presence and intensify maritime security operations, the navy has deployed roughly ten vessels with marine commandos in the waters of the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Aden. They use drones and P-8I planes to conduct routine surveillance missions to maintain a constant presence. INS Kolkata, Kochi, Chennai, Mormugao, Talwar, and Tarkash are among the warships currently deployed.

The 21 crew members of a merchant ship, including 15 Indians, were saved last week by the navy’s maritime commandos (abbreviated MARCOs) from an attempted hijacking by unidentified six to eight armed pirates off the coast of Somalia in the Arabian Sea. To conduct the mission, the navy has sent out a warship, the P-81 maritime patrol aircraft, and Predator MQ9B drones.

Reference: TOI

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