Teledyne FLIR Defense, a division of Teledyne Technologies Incorporated (NYSE: TDY), has been awarded a five-year Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract worth up to $93.9 million by the United States Army. The contract entails the provision of Black Hornet® 3 Personal Reconnaissance Systems (PRS) to the military. The initial phase of the contract includes the delivery of nano-unmanned aerial systems (UAS), along with controllers, spare parts, and training.
The U.S. Army commenced the acquisition of Black Hornet 3 nano-drones in 2018, as part of its Soldier Borne Sensor (SBS) program. Since then, orders for these multi-faceted drones have exceeded $125 million. The advanced nano-UAVs have proven instrumental in augmenting squad and small unit surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities.
Weighing a mere 33 grams and operating with near-silence, the combat-proven Black Hornet PRS offers a flight time of up to 25 minutes. It transmits live video and HD still images to operators, providing soldiers with immediate covert situational awareness, thereby enhancing mission effectiveness and safety, especially in contested environments.
Notably, Ukrainian forces have benefitted from the deployment of Black Hornet drones, courtesy of donations from the British and Norwegian governments. This month, Norway’s Ministry of Defense has further underscored the significance of these nano-drones by placing an order for an additional 1,000 UAS systems. The Black Hornet PRS has consistently demonstrated exceptional performance in various operations under challenging conditions.
FLIR Defense, with its commendable track record, has delivered more than 20,000 Black Hornet PRS systems to military and security forces across more than 40 countries. Dr. JihFen Lei, executive vice president and general manager of FLIR Defense, expressed pride in the Black Hornet 3’s impact on the battlefield, stating, “The Black Hornet 3 gives warfighters up-to-the-minute situational understanding before and while they conduct missions. We are proud to provide this unique capability to our soldiers and honored by the U.S. Army’s long-term commitment through the new IDIQ, building on its previous orders under the SBS program.”
FLIR Defense remains dedicated to furthering its investment in unmanned platforms and smart sensors, as these technologies continue to redefine modern warfare on a global scale.
The award-winning Black Hornet 3 nano-drones are designed and built by FLIR Defense in Norway, solidifying the company’s reputation as a reliable and influential player in the defense technology arena.
