Drishti-10

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.

The UAV reportedly has an indigenous content of over 70%.

Development
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. 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.

Operational history
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. A defense manufacturing facility was built in Hyderabad. It was the only Hermes 900 production facility outside Israel. It was also India's first private UAV manufacturing facility.

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. In February 2024, India exported 20 Hermes 900 UAVs to Israel.

The Indian Army's orders were expected to arrive within two to three months. 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. The first of the two drones ordered by the Army would arrive on 18 June 2024.

Operators


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 * Indian Navy - 2 delivered
 * Indian Army - 2 on order
 * Indian Air Force (planned)

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 * 20 delivered

Specifications
General characteristics
 * Crew: 2 on ground
 * Capacity: 450 kg (990 lb) payload
 * 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
 * Service ceiling: 9,100 m (30,000 ft)