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Nano drone a big hit for militaries worldwide

Don't blink or you'll miss it. The Black Hornet 4 UAV from Teledyne FLIR Defense weighs only 70 grams and can fly for over 30 minutes carrying a daytime camera and high-res thermal imager. [Credit: Image courtesy of Teledyne FLIR Defense]

 

 

 

 

FLIR Defense has delivered more than 33,000 Black Hornet drones to military and security forces in over 45 countries. The U.S. Army began acquiring Black Hornet systems in 2018 for its Soldier Borne Sensor (SBS) program. Since then, it has placed orders under SBS and other vehicles totaling more than $300 million, including a $91 million contract for fourth-generation Black Hornets last October.

Black Hornet 4 represents the next generation of lightweight nano drones, able to provide enhanced covert situational awareness to small fighting units. Its 12-megapixel daytime camera and high-resolution thermal imager deliver crisp video and still images to the operator. At just 70 grams, Black Hornet 4 can fly for over 30 minutes, more than 3 km, and function in 25-knot winds and rain. Flight performance is augmented by advanced obstacle-avoidance capabilities and other features, including an advanced battery. It is small enough for a dismounted soldier to carry on a utility belt. Ground speed can reach up to 10 m/sec. Obviously, keeping soldiers out of harm's way when doing recon is a major benefit.

Compared to quad-rotor drones, the single-rotor Black Hornet 4 UAV has an extremely low visual and audible signature, enabling it to identify threats day or night without being detected. Able to launch in less than 20 sec and well suited for missions in GPS-denied environments, Black Hornet 4 can be used to rapidly identify targets beyond visual line-of-sight and assess weapon effects in real time. Black Hornet is designed and built by Teledyne FLIR Defense in Norway. It is highly likely there are additional features the drone has that are not made public.

Last month, Teledyne FLIR Defense announced that its Black Hornet 4 nano drone was selected as a winner in the Blue UAS Refresh Challenge. In November, the United States Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) hosted a Blue UAS Refresh event at the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center in Twentynine Palms, CA. Over three dozen military drone users tested more than 35 uncrewed aerial system (UAS) products and capabilities to support the DoD's growing requirement for effective drone technology. Black Hornet 4 was chosen during the evaluation.

Black Hornet 4 represents the next generation of lightweight nano drones. It can function in 25-knot winds and rain. [Credit: Image courtesy of Teledyne FLIR Defense]

 

 

Led by DIU, Blue UAS vets and verifies commercial drone technology for the Department of Defense and U.S. government. As a result of winning Blue UAS Refresh, Teledyne FLIR's Black Hornet 4 will begin the NDAA and cyber security verification process required to join the Blue UAS List with an Authority to Operate (ATO). The Blue UAS List gives users access to a range of approved, NDAA-compliant commercial drone systems that can meet their diverse needs.

"Black Hornet 4 has been extremely well received by the warfighter since it was first introduced in late 2023," said Dr. JihFen Lei, president of Teledyne FLIR Defense. "We are very proud to see Black Hornet 4 selected as a winner of Blue UAS Refresh and are confident this unique drone will continue to have a huge impact for all operators across all missions."

"Along with having already been selected for the U.S. Army's Soldier Borne Sensor Tranche 2 program, this latest achievement will make Black Hornet 4 available to an even larger cohort of users," Lei added.

Also in February of this year, Teledyne FLIR Defense received an order from the German Army to provide its Black Hornet 4 nano drone system to German armed forces. The $15 million contract was facilitated by Teledyne FLIR's regional partner, European Logistic Partners (ELP) GmbH of Wuppertal, Germany.

"A highly stealthy, advanced drone such as Black Hornet 4 gives warfighters a distinct edge when conducting their toughest missions," said Ketil Vanebo, vice president of UAS Norway Operations at Teledyne FLIR Defense.

Learn more at flir.com/products/black-hornet-4/?vertical=uas&segment=uis.

Source: Teledyne FLIR Defense

Published March 2025

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