A growing threat from China and Pakistan is driving India to procure advanced unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) from domestic companies such as Adani Defence and Aerospace. The ongoing procurement of the Drishti-10 Starliner, a version of the Hermes 900 medium-altitude long endurance (MALE) UAV, which was jointly manufactured by Elbit Systems Ltd and Adani Defence and Aerospace signifies India’s focus on reducing import dependencies and promoting domestic private players, says GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.
GlobalData’s report, “The Global Military UAV Market 2023-33,” reveals that India is expected to spend $12.8 billion on procuring various categories of UAVs, out of which 70.4% will be directed towards the MALE segment. Hence, India offers many lucrative opportunities for both domestic UAV manufacturers such as Adani Defence and Aerospace as well as international suppliers, who are willing to jointly manufacture these UAVs with local defense companies.
Vinayak R Kamath, Aerospace and Defense Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “The procurement of these UAVs will also help the Indian Maritime Forces monitor their shipping lines to mitigate the risks of piracy. In early January 2024, Indian Marine Commandos conducted rescue operations in the Red Sea after an Indian Naval vessel was hijacked by Somali pirates. Unmanned platforms such as Drishti-10 will significantly enhance the Indian Navy’s capabilities to conduct such complex operations and reduce casualties.
“The procurement of modern UAV systems such as the Drishti-10 by the Indian Armed Forces is not only important in terms of securing their regional interests but also crucial in developing the domestic supply chain for such complex systems. This will ensure the rapid deployment of UAVs and a continued supply of spare parts during combat situations.”
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