Hyderabad: Indian Navy Chief Admiral R Hari Kumar introduced the Drishti 10 Starliner Unmanned Aerial Vehicle, domestically produced by Adani Defence and Aerospace.

The unveiling took place at the Aerospace Park in Hyderabad.

The Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) drone has been acquired under an emergency procurement mechanism to enhance India’s ability to keep a close eye on the waters of the Indian Ocean.

Adani Defence and Aerospace stated that the UAV is scheduled to undertake a flight from Hyderabad to Porbandar for its inclusion in naval maritime operations.

According to a statement by Adani, the Drishti 10 Starliner is a sophisticated Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) platform. It boasts a remarkable 36-hour endurance, a payload capacity of 450 kg, and holds the distinction of being the sole all-weather military platform certified with STANAG 4671. This certification allows it to operate seamlessly in both segregated and unsegregated airspace.

"This is a momentous occasion and a transformative step in India's quest for self-reliance in ISR technology and maritime supremacy. Adani has demonstrated its commitment to unmanned systems having worked systematically over the last many years to develop local capabilities not limited to manufacturing but sustenance through MRO (Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul).

"Drishti 10's integration into our naval operations will enhance our naval capabilities, strengthening our preparedness for the ever evolving maritime surveillance and reconnaissance," he said.

Jeet Adani, Vice President of Adani Enterprises, remarked that recent geopolitical developments have emphasized the merging of physical, informational, and cognitive strategies. This integration is supported by intelligence, information processing capabilities, the utilization of unmanned systems, and cyber systems for the dissemination of both information and disinformation.

"Intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance platforms across land, air and naval borders are a key priority for Adani which will help serve the needs of the Indian Armed forces and also place India on the global map for exports. We are proud to be able to serve the Indian Navy and their requirements," Adani added.