Indian Navy chief Admiral R Hari Kumar on Wednesday unveiled the country's first locally developed medium altitude, long endurance drone during a ceremony in Hyderabad city of Telangana state.
The drone named Drishti 10 'Starliner' Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) has been built by the private sector firm, Adani Defence and Aerospace.
"Drishti 10's integration into our naval operations will enhance our naval capabilities, strengthening our preparedness for the ever-evolving maritime surveillance and reconnaissance," Admiral R Hari Kumar said during the flag-off ceremony.
The development of the modern aerial system is a crucial step in India's bid to achieve "strategic autonomy and technological leadership" in various categories of drones, including high-endurance armed drones.
As per Adani Defence and Aerospace, the Drishti 10 'Starliner' is a state-of-the-art UAV tailor-made to carry out Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) activities.
The drone is capable of remaining afloat in the sky for 36 hours and has a maximum payload capacity of 450 kilograms.
Additionally, the Drishti 10 'Starliner' can function in all weather conditions and is capable of flying in segregated as well as unsegregated airspace.