NEW DELHI: A heavy-duty drone, assembled in India by Adani Defence and Aerospace under a licensing agreement with Israel, crashed into the sea during pre-acceptance trials near Porbandar, Gujarat, on Monday.
The drone, named Drishti-10 by Adani and based on the Hermes 900 Starliner model developed by Israeli firm Elbit Systems, was being operated by the vendor from the Porbandar naval air enclave when it went down.
Key Details of the Incident
- The Drishti-10, a Medium-Altitude, Long-Endurance (MALE) drone, is designed for extended intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) missions.
- Each unit costs approximately ₹120 crore.
- The first Drishti-10 was delivered to the Navy in January last year, followed by the Army receiving the second in June. The crashed drone was scheduled for delivery to the Navy.
India’s Expanding Drone Fleet
The Indian armed forces have been significant users of Israeli drones, including the Searcher and Heron Mark-I and Mark-II, for surveillance and precision targeting. The military estimates a need for around 150 new MALE drones to bolster its ISR capabilities.
Strategic Agreements and Acquisitions
India’s drone procurement strategy includes a landmark ₹32,350 crore contract with the US signed in October 2024 for 31 MQ-9B Predator drones, which are High-Altitude, Long-Endurance (HALE) systems.
- Allocation:
- 15 MQ-9B Sea Guardians for the Navy.
- 8 Sky Guardians each for the Army and Air Force.
- Armaments: These drones come equipped with Hellfire missiles, GBU-39B precision-guided glide bombs, and other advanced weaponry.
The Porbandar crash underscores the challenges of integrating cutting-edge drone technology, even as India intensifies efforts to enhance its indigenous defense manufacturing and operational readiness. An investigation is expected to determine the cause of the incident.
