Teledyne FLIR Defense announced that its Black Hornet 4 Personal Reconnaissance System has been officially added to the U.S. Defense Innovation Unit’s (DIU) Blue UAS List after successfully passing all NDAA compliance and cybersecurity verification requirements.
The Blue UAS program identifies and authorizes commercial drone technologies for use by the U.S. Department of Defense and other federal agencies. Teledyne FLIR’s Black Hornet 4 was selected from more than 35 drone systems tested under DIU’s ‘Blue UAS Refresh’ initiative earlier this year.
“We are honored to see Black Hornet 4 added to the Blue UAS List, knowing that more operators across our military and federal government will be able to benefit from this one-of-a-kind drone and its distinct capabilities,” said Dr. JihFen Lei, President of Teledyne FLIR Defense.
Weighing just 70 grams, Black Hornet 4 is designed to deliver real-time situational awareness for dismounted troops. The nano-drone features a 12-megapixel visible camera, a high-resolution thermal imager, advanced obstacle avoidance, and can operate in wind speeds up to 25 knots and rainy conditions. It offers over 30 minutes of flight time and a range of more than 3 kilometers.
In May, Teledyne FLIR Defense inaugurated a 13,000-square-foot facility in Somerset, Kentucky to provide maintenance, training, and testing services for Black Hornet users in the U.S. armed forces.
Since its introduction, Teledyne FLIR has delivered over 33,000 Black Hornet drones to military and security users in more than 45 countries. The U.S. Army has procured the system since 2018 under its Soldier Borne Sensor (SBS) program, with total contract awards exceeding $300 million.
The Black Hornet is developed and manufactured in Norway by Teledyne FLIR Defense.
