India Deploys Drishti-10 Starliner MALE Drone

India Deploys Drishti-10 Starliner MALE Drone

Why in News? 

India has begun operational deployment of the Drishti-10 Starliner Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) drone to bolster maritime domain awareness and sea security across its vast coastal waters, strengthening the Indian Navy’s ISR capabilities.

What is Drishti-10 Starliner MALE Drone?

• About: Drishti-10 Starliner is India’s advanced Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) developed to enhance long-range surveillance and reconnaissance missions. It is designed primarily for maritime and land intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) tasks. The platform stays airborne for long durations.

• Manufacturer: The Drishti-10 is made by Adani Defence and Aerospace, part of the Adani Group, at its dedicated UAV facility in Hyderabad, India. The development includes collaboration and technology transfer with Elbit Systems of Israel, drawing from their Hermes-900 MALE UAV architecture.

• Development: The first indigenously manufactured unit was unveiled for the Indian Navy in January 2024, with initial inductions into the Navy and Army occurring around that time and through June 2024. The drones were procured under the Defence Ministry’s emergency procurement provisions. Each drone is valued at approximately ₹120 crore (about $17 million).

• Design: The Drishti-10 Starliner uses a high-wing airframe typical of MALE UAVs. It measures around 15 meters in wingspan and has an approximate gross take-off weight of 1,100 kg. The air platform includes modern avionics, automatic take-off and landing systems, and SATCOM links for beyond-line-of-sight control.

• Features:

• • • Endurance: The UAV can remain airborne for up to 36 hours, enabling prolonged monitoring without frequent returns.
    • Altitude: It operates effectively between roughly 10,000 and 30,000 feet, optimal for wide-area surveillance.
    • Payload Capacity: It carries up to 450 kg of sensors and mission equipment, including radars, cameras, and communications gear.
    • Airworthiness Certification: Drishti-10 holds NATO’s STANAG 4671 certification, allowing it to fly in both civil and military airspace safely.
    • All-Weather Capability: It can operate through varied weather conditions, making it versatile for maritime and land missions.

• Communication Systems: The platform supports multiple sensor suites such as electro-optical and infrared cameras for day–night imaging, maritime surveillance radars for detecting vessels, and signal intelligence (SIGINT) equipment for communication monitoring. 

Significance of Drishti-10 Starliner

• Enhanced Maritime Domain Awareness: The Drishti-10 Starliner gives India’s naval forces a major boost in tracking sea activity across the Indian Ocean Region. Its long endurance helps monitor distant shipping routes and areas far from coastal radars. This improves detection of foreign vessels and suspicious movements over wide sea spans.
• Force Multiplier for Surveillance: This drone acts as a force multiplier for the Indian Navy and Army. Its advanced sensors and long flight time deliver real-time intelligence to commanders. Forces can make faster decisions and coordinate assets better during patrols and missions.
• All-Weather Operational Reliability: The Starliner has certification under NATO’s STANAG 4671 standard, enabling it to fly in various weather and airspace conditions. This means it can continue missions even when other aircraft might need to land due to bad weather.
• Strategic Self-Reliance in Defence: Drishti-10 reflects India’s commitment to Atmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India) in defence technology. Over 60–70 % of its components are of Indian origin, showing progress in domestic manufacturing and reducing dependence on foreign systems.
• Long Duration and High Payload Benefits: The drone can fly continuously for up to 36 hours and carry important surveillance equipment weighing up to 450 kg. This allows it to perform extended missions without frequent landings and carry advanced payloads for detailed ISR roles.
• Cost-Effective ISR Coverage: Compared to crewed aircraft and other high-end systems, the Starliner provides a cost-efficient solution for persistent surveillance. Its long endurance lowers overall operational expenses while maintaining wide-area monitoring and data gathering.
• Strengthened Border and Security Posture: Beyond the seas, the Drishti-10 helps secure land frontiers and coastal zones by supplying continuous ISR data. The Indian Army is deploying these drones along sensitive borders to bolster border patrol and reduce blind spots in remote areas.

India’s Other MALE Drones

• TAPAS‑BH‑201 (DRDO Rustom‑2): TAPAS‑BH‑201 is India’s indigenous Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) UAV developed by the Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE) of DRDO. It is a descendant of the Rustom family and began flight tests in November 2016. The drone is designed for long‑range surveillance and reconnaissance missions with advanced navigation and satellite communication links. 
• Rustom‑H MALE Variant: Rustom‑H is a larger member of the Rustom UAV series meant to support Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force requirements. It offers extended endurance beyond 24 hours and improved payload options compared to earlier prototypes. The platform carries ISR sensors and supports beyond‑line‑of‑sight operations.
• IAI Heron (Imported MALE): The IAI Heron is an Israeli‑origin MALE UAV that has served extensively with Indian forces. It performs intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) tasks and forms a backbone of India’s existing medium‑altitude UAV fleet. Multiple variants like Heron Mk‑I and Mk‑II have been operated by the Army and Air Force.
• IAI Searcher UAV: The IAI Searcher is another MALE class UAV procured from Israel. It supports tactical reconnaissance and target acquisition and provides real‑time battlefield data. Searcher drones have flown numerous missions to improve situational awareness and complement other UAV platforms in service.
• AI‑Powered Kaala Bhairav MALE Drone: The Kaala Bhairav is a newly developed AI‑enabled indigenous MALE UAV unveiled in August 2025 by Bengaluru‑based Flying Wedge Defence and Aerospace (FWDA). It offers up to 30 hours endurance and an extended range of around 3,000 km. The platform supports autonomous mission planning, swarm tactics, and precision strike capabilities.
• Archer UAV (DRDO): The Archer UAV is being developed as an offshoot of the Rustom programme with enhanced tactical capabilities. It falls into the MALE category and is designed for reconnaissance, surveillance, and future weaponisation roles. The Archer platform will provide the Indian armed forces with flexible operational capabilities.