The Indian Navy opened an investigation after a Drishti 10 UAV, the local version of the Israeli Elbit Hermes 900 Starliner, crashed last Wednesday, marking the second time in less than two years that such an incident has happened.
The Israeli UAV, manufactured under license by the Adani Group, crashed during a training sortie near the village of Drampar in Gujarat. The Indian Navy’s aviation base operates in the area.
The Adani Group and Elbit Systems told Defense & Tech by The Jerusalem Post that they were aware of the reports of the crash, but that it would be "premature" to comment on the possible circumstances leading up to the "reported mishandling" of the UAV.
"Given that the platform has been in operational deployment with the Indian Navy since its induction, we do not have visibility of the mission undertaken at the time of the incident," the Adani Group and Elbit Systems said.
"We are in touch with the relevant authorities and remain committed to providing all necessary technical support and assistance required during the assessment."
The Starliner is an enlarged version of the Hermes 900 and is equipped to fly on civilian flight routes, unlike most manned aircraft, enabling it to operate in normal airspace.
So far, the drone, which was used extensively by the Air Force in the war against Iran, has been sold to Switzerland and the Philippines, with an estimated price tag of more than $10 million.
Pride of India’s defense industry
The Hermes 900 is considered a source of local pride in India, as it is the country’s first domestically manufactured medium-altitude, long-endurance UAV, in line with India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call to buy only combat systems made in the country, including those developed by foreign manufacturers.
Sixty percent of its components are made in India, with the rest coming from Israel. India has not disclosed whether the aircraft carries weapons or only surveillance and reconnaissance systems, but it is considered an important platform for the country against China and Pakistan.
The drone can remain airborne continuously for 36 hours, carry a payload weighing 450 kg and reach an altitude of 30,000 feet.
The Adani Group said the aircraft has been in operational service with the Indian Navy since it was first handed over in 2024, while it announced that it will assist the navy in investigating the incident.