Australian Army Deploys Black Hornet Nano UAS

By Mike Ball / 28 May 2018

Smart Sourcing for Unmanned Systems

Discover cutting-edge solutions from leading global suppliers
SUPPLIER SPOTLIGHT
Follow UST

Black Hornet Nano UAS

The Australian Department of Defence has announced that unmanned aerial systems (UAS) will be rolled out to Australian Army soldiers in Brisbane following the completion of the Black Hornet Nano UAS Program.

Commander 6th Brigade and the Army’s only UAS unit, the 20th Surveillance Target Acquisition Regiment, Brigadier Susan Coyle, said the Black Hornet Nano UAS rollout was a significant achievement for Army.

“UAS are a game-changer for the Army, providing enhanced situational awareness for better mission execution for Australian soldiers,” Brigadier Coyle said. “The issue of the Black Hornet Nano UAS to our soldiers is an exciting example of adopting tactical robotic technology.”

For well over a decade, the Australian Army has been the largest and most experienced operator of UAS in the country.

“The Australian Army is now the biggest user of Nano UAS in the world. It is also the first in the world to proliferate this technology to the conventional forces down to combat platoon level,” Brigadier Coyle continued. “Experience of UAS operations overseas and in Australia have provided Army with unique expertise that is in high demand. UAS represent a defining opportunity for the Australian Army and the Australian Defence Force.”

The Black Hornet Nano UAS rollout and sustainment is an $18 million project and is a key capability milestone for the Army as it continues to be a technologically advanced force. The Army operate several UAS, ranging from the Nano-sized reconnaissance Black Hornet to large, nine-hour endurance surveillance systems such as the Shadow 200.

Posted by Mike Ball Mike Ball is our resident technical editor here at Unmanned Systems Technology. Combining his passion for teaching, advanced engineering and all things unmanned, Mike keeps a watchful eye over everything related to the unmanned technical sector. With over 10 years’ experience in the unmanned field and a degree in engineering, Mike’s been heading up our technical team here for the last 8 years. Connect & Contact

Latest Articles

Gremsy Unveils Advanced Payload & Gimbal Solutions at Japan Drone 2025

Gremsy showcased its latest gimbal and payload innovations at Japan Drone 2025, marking a strategic entry into Japan’s highly demanding drone market

Jun 18, 2025
How Parylene Coatings Address PCB Corrosion Risks in Critical Devices

Specialty Coating Systems (SCS) details how corrosion in printed circuit boards (PCBs) can compromise critical systems, and explains the protective role of Parylene coatings

Jun 18, 2025
UAV Navigation-Grupo Oesía to Advance Autonomy in European VTOL Defense Drones

UAV Navigation-Grupo Oesía will supply critical autonomous navigation technology for Europe’s VANTAGE project, advancing next-gen VTOL drone capabilities for defense operations

Jun 18, 2025
Small Propeller-Driven UAS Launched Effect for Uncrewed Operations

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems has unveiled the PELE, a versatile, semi-autonomous uncrewed launched effect with 7 hour endurance, optimized for use on the MQ-9B SkyGuardian®, that can also be launched from the ground

Jun 18, 2025
Product Spotlight: ACM1000 MEMS Sensor for Multi-Parameter Vibration Monitoring

Micro-Magic outlines the capabilities of its ACM1000 digital MEMS vibration sensor, engineered for high-accuracy monitoring with multi-parameter outputs and robust performance in demanding environments

Jun 18, 2025
FPV Drone Showcased in Live Military Demonstration

Astra Systems has demonstrated its advanced Arbiter 1A FPV drone to the U.S. Army, showcasing tactical agility, ISR capabilities, and battlefield readiness

Jun 18, 2025

Featured Content

HBK Updates RTK Service for Precise Positioning in Autonomous Systems

HBK has updated its SensorCloud RTK service, integrating with MicroStrain by HBK navigation systems to provide centimeter-level accuracy and simplified deployment for autonomous systems

Jun 17, 2025
MEMS DC Accelerometers from SDI Deliver Superior Performance for Unmanned Systems

SDI's MEMS DC accelerometers offer a robust solution for unmanned aerial, ground, and underwater vehicles, providing precise static and dynamic motion sensing, crucial for autonomous navigation, attitude feedback, and structural monitoring

Jun 12, 2025
Calian GNSS Unveils New Anti-Jamming CRPA with XF+ Filtering

Calian GNSS has introduced the CR8894SXF+, a compact CRPA antenna with in-band null forming and XF+ filtering for resilient GNSS performance in interference-prone environments

Jun 06, 2025
Advancing Unmanned Systems Through Strategic Collaboration UST works with major OEMs to foster collaboration and increase engagement with SMEs, to accelerate innovation and drive unmanned systems capabilities forward.