Indian Navy chief unveiled first indigenously manufactured UAV

Indian Navy Chief Admiral R Hari Kumar unveiled the first indigenously manufactured Drishti 10 Starliner Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) in Hyderabad, a product of Adani Defence and Aerospace. The ceremony, attended by Admiral R Hari Kumar, Chief of the Naval Staff, recognized Adani Group’s alignment with the Navy’s needs and its effort in establishing a capable ecosystem for ‘Atmanirbharta’ in defence and security.

Admiral R Hari Kumar praised the event as a transformative step for India’s self-reliance in ISR technology and maritime supremacy. He stated, “Drishti 10’s integration will enhance our naval capabilities, strengthening our preparedness for ever-evolving maritime surveillance and reconnaissance.”

Telangana’s Minister of Industries and Commerce, IT, Electronics, and Legislative Affairs, D Sridhar Babu, congratulated Adani Defence and Aerospace for creating a vibrant unmanned systems ecosystem. Lieutenant General Ajay Suri, Director General of Army Aviation, highlighted the strategic importance of Adani Aerospace Park in Hyderabad, commending its focus on innovation and indigenization.

Jeet Adani, VP, Adani Enterprises, emphasized the significance of intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance platforms and their priority for Adani in serving the armed forces and elevating India’s global standing. Ashish Rajvanshi, CEO of Adani Defence and Aerospace, described the handover of the Drishti 10 Starliner UAV as a milestone in their journey toward self-sufficiency and indigenization.

The Drishti 10 Starliner is an advanced ISR platform with 36 hours of endurance and a 450 kg payload capacity. It holds NATO’s STANAG 4671 certification, allowing it to fly in both segregated and unsegregated airspace. Adani Aerospace Park, the first private sector final assembly line for military-grade unmanned systems in India, contributes to over 70% indigenization. The UAV will be transported to Porbandar for induction into naval maritime operations.