Teledyne FLIR Defense announced multiple enhancements to its Black Hornet® 4 Personal Reconnaissance System at SOF Week in Tampa, Florida.
The upgrades include a 50 percent increase in radio communications range, from two kilometers to three kilometers under ideal conditions.
The new Android Tactical System controller includes up to 2X improvement in battery life, a battery heater for charging in cold conditions, and improved ergonomics for gloved operation.
The Black Hornet 4 weighs 70 grams, flies more than 30 minutes, and performs in 25-knot winds and rain. The system is now IP-52 rated, and the controller has an IP-54 rating.
The Black Hornet 4 includes a 12-megapixel visible camera and a high-resolution thermal imager to deliver clear video and still images.
It can be launched in less than 20 seconds and is suitable for use in GPS-denied environments.
Teledyne FLIR Defense has delivered more than 33,000 Black Hornet PRS systems to military and security forces in over 45 countries.
The U.S. Army began acquiring the systems in 2018, with total orders exceeding $300 million.
Ketil Vanebo, vice president of Unmanned Ground Systems-Norway at Teledyne FLIR Defense, stated: “We’ve listened to feedback from operators at the tactical edge and incorporated their needs into these latest capabilities and features. We’re proud to make them available to Black Hornet 4 users worldwide.”
