FLIR Systems has been awarded an additional contract to provide the U.S. Army with its Black Hornet 3 Personal Reconnaissance Systems (PRS). The nano-UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles) are being used to augment the Army’s squad and small unit-level surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities as part of the Soldier Borne Sensor (SBS) program.
The U.S. Army began acquiring Black Hornet 3 UAVs to support the SBS effort in September 2018, and since then has placed orders totaling more than $85 million with FLIR for the nano-sized unmanned aircraft.
The combat-proven Black Hornet PRS is a lightweight, pocket-sized system that is designed for operations in contested environments. With almost silent flight and an endurance of up to 25 minutes, it can transmit live video and HD still images back to the operator. Its information feed provides soldiers with immediate covert situational awareness to help them perform missions more effectively. FLIR has delivered more than 12,000 Black Hornet nano-UAVs to defense and security forces worldwide.
Roger Wells, VP and general manager of Unmanned Systems & Integrated Solutions at FLIR, commented: “Unmanned systems like our Black Hornet provide enhanced standoff and safety to troops in harm’s way, which is critical as militaries intensify their plans for multi-domain operations. We’re honored the Black Hornet plays an integral part in the Army’s Soldier Borne Sensor program. Every new order is a testament to the difference this technology can make on the battlefield and renews our commitment to advancing the science.”
