Elbit Systems Ltd

Elbit Systems is Israel's largest defence electronics company and a key India UAV partner through its Adani-Elbit joint venture ('Adani Elbit Advanced Systems India Ltd'), which opened India's first p

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Country: IN

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At a Glance

Headquarters
Haifa, Israel
Type
Manufacturer (listed)
Founded
1966 (as El-Op; modern Elbit Systems formed 1996)
India entity
null
Listed
NASDAQ: ESLT (US ADRs); Tel Aviv Stock Exchange: ESLT
Key India role
Elbit Systems is Israel's largest defence electronics company and a key India UAV partner through its Adani-Elbit joint venture ('Adani Elbit Advanced Systems India Ltd'), which opened India's first p
indicators
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key specs
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What It Is

Elbit Systems is Israel's largest defence electronics company and a key India UAV partner through its Adani-Elbit joint venture ('Adani Elbit Advanced Systems India Ltd'), which opened India's first private-sector UAV manufacturing facility in Hyderabad in December 2018. The JV produces the Hermes 900 MALE UAV, marketed in India as the 'Drishti-10' Starliner; the Indian Navy formally received its first Drishti-10 long-endurance UAV in January 2024. The same JV has supplied 20+ Hermes-900 airframes to Israel (IAF) amid the Gaza war, drawing scrutiny. Elbit's Hermes 900 has reportedly suffered operational crashes/glitches in Indian service (2025-26), with additional crashes reported in Switzerland. Elbit has also won Asia-Pacific naval contracts (e.g., Seagull USV in January 2021) that may include India.

Sources: [1][2][3][4][5]

Deployments & Procurement

3 documented India deployment(s)/procurement(s).

AgencyContextYearQuantity / NoteSources
Indian NavyFormal delivery of first Drishti-10 (Hermes 900) Starliner long-endurance UAV from Adani Defence Hyderabad facility20241 (first of order)[1][2][3]
Adani Elbit Advanced Systems India Ltd (JV)Inauguration of India's first private UAV manufacturing facility in Hyderabad2018n/a (JV facility)[1][2][3]
Israel Defence Forces (via India JV)Adani-Elbit JV supplied 20+ Hermes-900 drones to Israel amid Gaza war2023-202420+[1][2][3]

Import Dependencies

Not analysed in this dossier.

Intelligence Assessment

Methodology: /research/methodology/

India footprint
Documented/5

9 sources with India-specific evidence.

Sources: [1][2][3][4]

Indigenous content
Not disclosed/5

Indigenous percentage not publicly verified.

Sources: [1][2][3]

Operational status
Operational/5

Based on latest public sources as of 2026-08-30.

Sources: [1][2][3]

Source quality
High/5

3 official, 5 credible sources.

Sources: [1][2][3]

FAQ

Which Elbit Systems UAV is built in India?

The Hermes 900 MALE UAV is co-produced in India by the Adani-Elbit joint venture ('Adani Elbit Advanced Systems India Ltd') at Hyderabad — India's first private-sector UAV manufacturing facility, inaugurated in December 2018. The platform is marketed to the Indian Navy as the 'Drishti-10' Starliner; the first unit was formally delivered to the Navy on 10 January 2024.

Sources: [1][2][3]

What is the Adani-Elbit joint venture called?

The JV is 'Adani Elbit Advanced Systems India Ltd', inaugurated in Hyderabad in December 2018. It is India's first private UAV manufacturing facility and produces the Hermes 900 (Drishti-10) MALE UAV; it has also exported 20+ Hermes-900 airframes to Israel.

Sources: [1][2][3]

Has Elbit's Hermes 900 had any operational issues in India?

Yes. The Jerusalem Post reported in January 2025 on 'glitches for Elbit's Hermes 900 in India and Switzerland', and Calcalist CTech reported in July 2026 that a Hermes 900 crashed again in India — indicating recurring operational issues with the platform in Indian service.

Sources: [1][2][3]

Sources

  1. src-01Official
    https://www.adani.com/newsroom/media-releases/adani-defence-and-aerospace-and-elbit-systems-inaugurate-india-first-private-uav-manufacturing
    Adani Group (company press release)·accessed 2026-08-30

    Adani Defence & Aerospace and Elbit Systems inaugurate India's first private UAV manufacturing facility

  2. src-02Credible
    https://uasweekly.com/2018/12/18/adani-elbit-systems-open-indias-first-uav-facility-in-hyderabad
    UAS Weekly·2018-12-18·accessed 2026-08-30

    Confirms Dec 2018 inauguration of Adani-Elbit UAV facility in Hyderabad

  3. src-03Credible
    https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/navy-chief-formally-receives-drishti-10-long-endurance-uav-from-adani-defence-in-hyderabad/article67726088.ece
    The Hindu·2024-01-10·accessed 2026-08-30

    Indian Navy chief formally receives Drishti-10 long-endurance UAV from Adani Defence in Hyderabad

  4. src-04Credible
    https://www.business-humanrights.org/en/latest-news/india-adani-elbit-the-countries-first-private-uav-facility-supplies-over-20-hermes-900-drones-to-israel
    Business & Human Rights Resource Centre·accessed 2026-08-30

    Adani-Elbit JV supplies 20+ Hermes-900 drones to Israel

  5. src-05Credible
    https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/hkvdp3v4mg
    Calcalist CTech·2026-07-15·accessed 2026-08-30

    Hermes 900 crashes again in India — operational glitches

  6. src-06Credible
    https://www.jpost.com/business-and-innovation/article-838446
    The Jerusalem Post·2025-01-20·accessed 2026-08-30

    Glitches for Elbit's Hermes 900 in India and Switzerland

  7. src-07Official
    https://www.prnewswire.com/il/news-releases/elbit-systems-awarded-a-contract-to-supply-seagull-usvs-to-a-navy-of-a-country-in-asia-pacific-301207238.html
    PRNewswire (Elbit official)·2021-01-13·accessed 2026-08-30

    Elbit Seagull USV contract for Asia-Pacific navy

  8. src-08Indicative
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elbit_Hermes_900
    Wikipedia·accessed 2026-08-30

    Hermes 900 general background

  9. src-09Official
    https://www.elbitsystems.com/autonomous/maritime/maritime-patrol-uav/hermes-900-maritime-patrol-uas
    Elbit Systems (company official)·accessed 2026-08-30

    Hermes 900 Maritime Patrol UAS product page

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