The Indian Navy has confirmed the crash of one of its Uncrewed Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), the Drishti-10, off the Porbandar airfield in Gujarat during a routine training sortie on Wednesday afternoon. In an official statement issued by Naval Headquarters, the Navy stated: “Indian Navy confirms the crash of Uncrewed Aerial Vehicle Drishti-10, off Porbandar airfield during a training sortie this afternoon. NO INJURY OR LOSS OF LIFE has been reported on ground. The cause of the incident is being investigated.”
The Drishti-10 Starliner is a Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) UAV operated by Indian Naval Air Squadron (INAS) 343, known as the “Frontier Formidables,” based at the Naval Air Enclave, Porbandar. The squadron is tasked with maritime surveillance and reconnaissance missions over the northern Arabian Sea.
The platform, a licence-assembled Indian variant of the Elbit Systems Hermes 900, is designed for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) roles. It offers an endurance of up to 36 hours, a payload capacity of approximately 450 kg, a service ceiling of around 9,100 metres (30,000 feet), and the ability to support anti-submarine warfare, over-the-horizon targeting, and search-and-rescue operations. The UAV is assembled by Adani Defence and Aerospace in collaboration with Elbit Systems, with significant indigenous content under the Make in India initiative.
The incident occurred during a training sortie, and the Navy has emphasised that there were no injuries or loss of life on the ground. A formal investigation into the cause has been initiated, and further details are expected to emerge as the probe progresses.
This marks the second reported loss of a Drishti-10 platform linked to the Indian Navy. In January 2025, another unit was lost off the Porbandar coast during pre-acceptance trials conducted by the vendor prior to formal induction into naval service. The current incident involves an operational asset engaged in training activities.
The Indian Navy continues to enhance its unmanned aerial capabilities to augment maritime domain awareness and reduce operational pressure on manned platforms such as the P-8I Poseidon. Plans for the induction of additional Drishti-10 UAVs have been reported in the past.
As of the latest official communication, the Navy has not released further details regarding the specific circumstances of the crash, the extent of damage, or any immediate operational impact. The service has reiterated its commitment to flight safety and the thorough investigation of all incidents.
Further updates are expected as the investigation proceeds.
