Teledyne Technologies subsidiary Teledyne FLIR Defense has won a contract to supply the German Army with its Black Hornet 4 personal reconnaissance systems, as well as spares and training support. The contract, part of a two-year agreement with the Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support, was facilitated through Teledyne’s regional partner, European Logistic Partners.
The Black Hornet 4, designed and manufactured in Norway, is a lightweight nano-drone that provides covert situational awareness for small military units. It is equipped with a 12-megapixel daytime camera, a high-resolution thermal imager, and a single-rotor design that makes it difficult to detect visually and audibly.
Weighing only 70 grams, the nano-drone can fly for over 30 minutes and cover distances greater than 2 kilometers. It can operate in challenging conditions, including winds of up to 25 knots and rain. According to Teledyne FLIR, the Black Hornet 4 is small enough to fit a soldier’s utility belt, can be deployed in under 20 seconds and functions effectively in areas without GPS.
Teledyne FLIR has delivered over 33,000 Black Hornet drones to military and security forces in 45 countries, including the United States, France and Ukraine.
Ketil Vanebo, vice president of UAS Norway operations at Teledyne FLIR Defense, noted the increasing interest in Black Hornet systems across Europe, especially given the current geopolitical situation. “A highly stealthy, advanced drone such as Black Hornet 4 gives warfighters a distinct edge when conducting their toughest missions,” he said.
The Black Hornet 4 recently won the Blue Unmanned Aircraft Systems Refresh event, which has expanded its availability to more users. Blue UAS, led by the Defense Innovation Unit, vets and verifies commercial drone technology for the Pentagon and the U.S. government.