Lucknow: Adani Defence & Aerospace and Elbit Systems of Israel’s joint venture firm Adani Elbit Advanced Systems said on February 6 it has started exporting Hermes 900 unmanned aerial platform to international customers.

Hermes 900 is a combat-proven, multi-role unmanned platform with an endurance of 36 hours, payload capacity of 420 kg and altitude of over 32,000 feet with applications across civil, defence and homeland security. The company set up the first private UAV manufacturing complex at Adani Aerospace Park in Hyderabad to indigenise unmanned aerial platforms. The only Hermes 900 production facility outside Israel was inaugurated in December 2018.

The design centre will facilitate job creation for highly-qualified research and development engineers to build products of tomorrow aligned to the needs of the armed forces.

“Our enduring relationship with Adani Defence & Aerospace has shaped our joint vision to make India a global hub for manufacturing and exports of the unmanned platforms,” said Elad Aharonson, Executive Vice President and General Manager for ISTAR Division of Elbit Systems.

Ashish Rajvanshi, Head of Adani Defence & Aerospace, said: “Our vision is not limited to project-based collaboration with our partners but is about transforming the defence ecosystem in India through inclusive growth and collective contribution.”

“Both the teams have identified critical programmes across the entire unmanned segment which will further facilitate job creation and in creating a vibrant technology and innovation hub in India,” said Rajvanshi.

Adani Group is an integrated industrial conglomerate in India with six publicly traded companies with total revenues of 15 billion dollars and a market capitalisation of over 30 billion dollars.

Elbit Systems is an international high-technology company engaged in a range of defence, homeland security and commercial programmes throughout the world.