SOURCE: IDRW.ORG
At Aero India 2025, held in Bengaluru from February 10-14, Adani Defence and Aerospace made headlines by showcasing the Akshi 7, a rebadged version of the Elbit Hermes 650 Spark, a digital autonomous unmanned aerial system (UAS).
Building on the success of the display, Adani Defence has now revealed to idrw.org that it is working closely with Israel’s Elbit Systems to develop an armed variant of the Akshi 7. Described as a next-generation drone, the Akshi 7 boasts Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) capabilities, offering exceptional payload capacity, range, speed, and efficiency, positioning it as a transformative asset for modern military operations. This collaboration underscores India’s push toward indigenous defense innovation while leveraging global partnerships to meet strategic needs.
The Akshi 7, as presented by Adani Defence at Aero India 2025, is a high-performance UAS designed to meet the demands of contemporary warfare. With Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) capabilities, the drone offers a blend of advanced technology and operational flexibility, making it suitable for a wide range of missions, from intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) to potential combat roles in its forthcoming armed variant.
The UAS has a useful load of 575 pounds (260 kg), distributed across eight modular storage stations, including two large payload bays in the fuselage and six hard points on the wings. Even with full fuel capacity, it can carry payloads up to 265 pounds (120 kg), ensuring operational flexibility without compromising endurance.
Capable of staying airborne for up to 24 hours, the Akshi 7 ensures prolonged mission durations, critical for persistent surveillance and extended operations. Akshi 7 supports Beyond Line of Sight (BLOS) operations, leveraging advanced satellite communication (SATCOM) systems to extend its operational reach beyond traditional line-of-sight constraints.
Equipped with state-of-the-art avionics, the UAS ensures reliable performance in diverse conditions, with features like automatic pre-flight inspection and smart digital maintenance for enhanced operational readiness. The Akshi 7 adheres to NATO STANAG 4671 standards, ensuring interoperability with allied forces and compliance with international airworthiness requirements.
The Akshi 7’s multi-purpose payload bay is a key feature, enabling it to carry a diverse array of sensors and systems for various mission profiles. The UAS can accommodate NATO STANAG 4671-compliant payloads, including Electro-Optical/Infrared/Short-Wave Infrared (EO/IR/SWIR), Radar, Communications Intelligence (COMINT), Electronic Intelligence (ELINT) and SkEye Wide Area Persistent Surveillance (WAPs).
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