In AS 343 gets 2nd Drishti-10 Drone from Adani defence & Aerospace
The Drishti-10 is a much improved or rather the next variant of Israel’s Hermes-900 which had entered service in 2015 and soon became one of the most widely used military drones in the world.
It is a medium-size, multi-payload, medium altitude long endurance (MALE) Unmanned Aerial Vehicle ( UAV ) designed for tactical missions. Drishti 10 can operate in all weather conditions in both segregated and unsegregated airspace.
It is designed as an intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) platform with advanced features and supports fully autonomous functions and SATCOM-based operations.
The drone with flight endurance of over 36 hours and a payload of 450 kg provides over-the-horizon persistent multi-payload capabilities, making it a force multiplier for the Indian Navy.
Pay load can be electronic optical / infrared sensors, synthetic aperture radar / ground moving target indicators, communication devices, Electronic warfare suits and hyperspectral sensors, in combination or in stand alone mode.
India had ordered four of Drishti10 version in March 2023; to be co-manufactured with Adani Defence & aerospace. Two to be delivered each to the Indian Army and the Navy.
The first was delivered to the INAS 343 of the Indian Navy on 10 January 2024 with the Second coming on 4 December 2024.
This has further enhanced the maritime surveillance capabilities of this UAV Squadron based at Porbandar.
The INAS 343 was the second naval UAV squadron to be raised in Jan 2011 to patrol the Northern parts of the Arabian Sea. It commenced operating from Naval Air Enclave Porbandar with two IAI Heron and two Searcher Mk2 UAVs.
The Searcher is a third-generation UAV which carries a modern and sophisticated electro optical camera and a communication intelligence payload.
Heron is the bigger version of Searcher MKII and has a wingspan of about 16 metres,equipped with a maritime patrol radar. Both the UAVs have long endurance capabilities, can operate before and after sunset and beam real time live pictures of maritime targets.
The Searcher MkII has a cruise speed of about 100 knots, a service ceiling of 20,000 feet and an 18-hour endurance. The Heron weighing around 950kg can touch speeds of over 100 knots with a service ceiling of 30,000 feet and an endurance of 30 hours.
The Drishti 10 weighing 1100kg on the other hand can touch speeds of 220 kmph though normal cruising speeds 115 kmph. It is controlled by a ground crew of two.
Deployment enhances the Navy’s ability to monitor vast maritime territories and mitigate not only piracy risks effectively but keep an eye on the aggressive behaviour of Pakistani Coast Guard and the Maritime Security Agency against Indian fisherman operating inside India’s EEZ.
Hopefully more Drishti 10s will be handed over the Squadron in next few years.
The Heron navigates using an internal GPS navigation device, and either a pre-programmed flight profile (in which case the system is fully autonomous from takeoff to landing), manual override from a ground control station, or a combination of both. It can autonomously return to base and land in case of lost communication with the ground station.
The system has fully automatic launch and recovery (ALR) and all-weather capabilities.
The Heron can carry an array of sensors, including thermographic camera (infrared) and visible-light airborne ground surveillance, intelligence systems (COMINT and ELINT) and various radar systems, totaling up to 250 kg (550 lb).
The Heron is also capable of target acquisition and artillery adjustment.
The payload sensors communicate with the ground control station in real time, using either direct line of sight data link, or via an airborne/satellite relay.
Like the navigation system, the payload can also be used in either a fully pre-programmed autonomous mode, or manual real-time remote operation, or a combination of both.
