Chief of Naval Staff Admiral R Hari Kumar on Wednesday unveiled the indigenously manufactured Drishti 10 Starliner Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) drone in Hyderabad. Adani Defence, the firm which manufactured the drone said that the UAV will fly from Hyderabad to Porbandar to be inducted into the naval maritime operations.
The firm said that the drone is an advanced Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) platform with 36 hours of endurance and 450 kilograms payload capacity. The drone is the only all-weather military platform with NATO’s STANAG 4671 (standardised
agreement 4671) certification for the UAV system’s airworthiness.
Drishti 10 Starliner drone can fly in both segregated and unsegregated airspace, the firm added.
Speaking at the event, Admiral R Hari Kumar lauded Adani’s efforts in aligning its roadmap to the Navy’s requirements and establishing an ecosystem of partners and capabilities to enable ‘Atmanirbharta’ in defence and security.
“This is a momentous occasion and a transformative step in India’s quest for self-reliance in ISR technology and maritime supremacy. Drishti 10’s integration will enhance our naval capabilities, strengthening our preparedness in the ever-evolving maritime surveillance and reconnaissance,” said the Navy chief.
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The flag-off ceremony was held at Adani Aerospace Park in Hyderabad.
Jeet Adani, VP, Adani Enterprises said, "Recent geopolitical events have reinforced the convergence of physicial, informational, and cognitive tactics underpinned by intelligence, information process capabilities, use of unmanned systems and cyber systems for dissemination of information and disinformation."
"Intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance platforms across land, air and naval borders are a key priority for Adani to serve the armed forces and place India on the global map for exports. We are proud to be able to serve the Indian Navy,” he added.