21.01.2025 16:51
The Israeli-made Drishti 10 Starliner, also known as Hermes 900 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), has been in the spotlight recently due to increasing accidents and technical deficiencies. After it was discovered that the UAVs sold by Israel to Switzerland were missing parts, the same UAVs have now crashed in India.
During the pre-acceptance trials for the Indian Navy, a domestically produced model of these UAVs crashed on the Porbandar coast in Gujarat, near the Pakistan border. This incident raised concerns about the reliability of UAVs.
RELIABILITY ISSUES IN ISRAELI-MADE UAVS ARE INCREASING
Drishti 10 was produced by Adani Defence and Aerospace in collaboration with Elbit Systems. This initiative aims to ensure that 60% of the UAV components are produced locally, in line with India's "Made in India" policy. However, the accidents and reliability issues indicate that there are challenges in achieving these goals.
ISRAEL SOLD INCOMPLETE DRONES TO SWITZERLAND
The Swiss Air Force also found that a critical "detect and avoid" system was missing in the Hermes 900 UAVs they purchased. This deficiency led to delays in deliveries, and the fleet's full operational capability has been postponed to 2029. Additionally, a Hermes 900 unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) belonging to the Swiss Armed Forces crashed on Wednesday, August 5, for an undetermined reason. This situation is expected to lead to restrictions in UAV operations and increased costs.
ISRAELI DRONES ARE IN THE SPOTLIGHT DUE TO TECHNICAL DEFICIENCIES AND SECURITY ISSUES
Both India and Switzerland are critical markets for Israel's defense exports. The disruptions occurring in these countries pose significant challenges for Israel's defense industry. In particular, technical deficiencies and reliability issues could negatively impact the reputation of UAVs in the international market.