Teledyne FLIR’s Black Hornet 4 Drone Approved for U.S. Military Use

Teledyne FLIR Defense's Black Hornet 4 Personal Reconnaissance System has been chosen as a winner of the U.S. Department of Defense’s Blue UAS Refresh program, led by the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU).

The selection follows the DIU’s Blue UAS Refresh event held in November at the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center in Twentynine Palms, California, where over 35 uncrewed aerial systems (UAS) were evaluated. The Black Hornet 4 will now begin the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) and cybersecurity verification process to secure an Authority to Operate (ATO) and join the Blue UAS List. This will give users access to approved, NDAA-compliant drones.

The Black Hornet 4 is a nano-drone designed for covert reconnaissance. It features a 12-megapixel daytime camera, a high-resolution thermal imager, and obstacle avoidance capabilities. Weighing just 70 grams, the drone can fly for over 30 minutes, cover more than three kilometers, and operate in winds of up to 25 knots and rain. Its single-rotor design ensures a low visual and audible signature, making it suitable for operations in GPS-denied environments.

Teledyne FLIR has delivered over 33,000 Black Hornet drones to military and security forces across more than 45 countries. The U.S. Army has been procuring Black Hornet systems under the Soldier Borne Sensor (SBS) program since 2018, with orders totaling over $300 million, including a $91 million contract awarded last October for Black Hornet 4 systems.