SOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG
The Drishti 10 (Hermes 900) Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), locally manufactured by Adani Defence at its Hyderabad facility, was procured by the Indian Navy and Army for benchmarking testing purposes. Initially seen as an interim solution, both services acquired two units to assess their performance while awaiting a larger procurement initiative for Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) UAVs. However, as the services continue testing, it seems that further orders for the Drishti 10 might not materialize.
Both the Indian Army and Navy are keen on issuing a tender for the procurement of nearly 76 MALE UAVs, with 60 units designated for the Army, 12 for the Indian Air Force, and four for the Navy. This would allow the forces to acquire modern UAVs capable of meeting their operational requirements, rather than settling on interim solutions like the Drishti 10.
The Drishti 10 UAV, based on Israel’s Hermes 900 platform, was selected as a stopgap solution due to delays in the larger MALE UAV procurement program. Leasing UAVs was turning out to be expensive, so the decision was made to procure two units directly for testing and evaluation. The UAVs were subjected to rigorous trials to determine whether they could fulfil the diverse needs of the Indian Army and Navy.
While the Drishti 10 UAV has been performing satisfactorily in naval trials, its performance in high-altitude operations—a key requirement for the Indian Army—has been less impressive, according to sources close to the situation. The Army requires a MALE UAV that can operate effectively in the challenging terrain of the northern borders, particularly in the Himalayas, where higher altitude performance is critical.
Despite these concerns, the Indian Navy has found the Drishti 10 to be more aligned with its maritime surveillance needs, where altitude is less of an issue. The UAV’s ability to monitor large stretches of sea, including over the vast Indian Ocean Region (IOR), makes it a valuable asset for the Navy, albeit not necessarily the best long-term solution.
Given the mixed performance of the Drishti 10, both the Army and Navy are now shifting focus toward a larger tender for MALE UAVs. The procurement of 76 UAVs, with a breakdown of 60 for the Army, 12 for the Air Force, and four for the Navy, will be crucial to bolstering India’s unmanned aerial capabilities. The new MALE UAVs are expected to be used for various roles, including reconnaissance, surveillance, target acquisition, and intelligence gathering.
Several countries are expected to offer their own MALE UAV platforms for this tender, all of which will be required to be locally manufactured in India, in line with the government’s “Make in India” initiative. Additionally, India’s private defence sector is also stepping up, with companies keen to offer their own UAV variants, which could further diversify the range of options available for selection.
The procurement of MALE UAVs will be closely tied to India’s efforts to boost Indigenous defence manufacturing capabilities. Companies like Adani Defence and others in the private sector are expected to participate in the tender, either by collaborating with foreign technology providers or by offering domestically developed platforms. This could lead to a significant boost in the local defence manufacturing ecosystem, reducing dependency on imports and ensuring that critical technologies are developed within India.
While the Drishti 10 UAV has served as a useful interim solution, it appears unlikely to see significant further orders, especially from the Indian Army. Its mixed performance, particularly at high altitudes, means it may not be the best fit for the Army’s operational needs. However, with the Navy expressing some satisfaction, it remains to be seen if any follow-up orders will come from that quarter.
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