Teledyne FLIR Black Hornet
A micro UAV providing situational awareness to ground troops.
The Teledyne FLIR Black Hornet is a military micro unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) originally developed by Prox Dynamics AS of Norway. It is a small, hand-launched helicopter designed to provide troops with local situational awareness, transmitting video and still images to a handheld terminal via a digital data link and GPS. The Black Hornet is notable for its compact size—approximately 16 × 2.5 cm (6 × 1 in) and weighing 18 g (0.7 oz) with battery—and its use by multiple armed forces worldwide.
- Dimensions
- 16 × 2.5 cm (6 × 1 in)
- Weight
- 18 g (0.7 oz) with battery
- Top speed
- 21 km/h (13 mph)
- Hovering time
- 20–25 minutes
- Charge time to 90%
- 20–25 minutes
- Camera complement
- Three cameras: forward, straight down, and 45-degree down
- Data link range
- 1.6 km (1 mile)
Lore & Background
The Black Hornet was developed by Prox Dynamics AS of Norway, which was bought by Teledyne FLIR in 2016 for 134 million dollars. Teledyne FLIR specializes in the manufacture of IR cameras, like the one used on the Black Hornet. The UAV is launched from a small box that can be strapped to a utility belt, which also stores transmitted data. Since the drone itself does not store any data, it is not an advantage if captured. Operators can steer the UAV or set waypoints for it to fly itself. An operator can be trained to operate the Black Hornet in 20 minutes. A Black Hornet package contains two helicopters; when one needs to be recharged the other is ready to fly. In October 2014, Prox Dynamics unveiled a version with night vision capabilities, with long-wave infrared and day video sensors. Over 3,000 Black Hornets had been delivered as of 2014.
Reader's Guide
The Black Hornet has seen operational use in Afghanistan, where it was deployed by UK forces from Camp Bastion during Operation Herrick to fly into enemy territory and take video and still images before returning to the operator. It was withdrawn from service in 2016/2017. Designed to blend in with muddy grey walls, it has been used to look around corners or over walls to identify hidden dangers and enemy positions. The Black Hornet is currently in use by the armed forces of numerous countries including Norway, the United States, France, the United Kingdom, Germany, Denmark, Algeria, Ireland, Australia, the Netherlands, Poland, New Zealand, India, Turkey, South Africa, Ukraine, Morocco, and Vietnam. By September 2016, it was in use by the militaries of 19 NATO-allied countries. The US Army bought 60 Hornet 3 drones in 2018, another 300 in 2022, and an undisclosed number in 2023, some intended for Ukraine. The larger Black Recon model, revealed in 2023, is designed to be launched from armored vehicles and contains three UAVs in an 80 kg box; deliveries are expected to begin in 2025.
Did You Know?
- The Black Hornet measures about 16 × 2.5 cm and weighs only 18 g with its battery.
- It has three cameras: one forward, one straight down, and one pointing down at 45 degrees.
- An operator can be trained to fly the Black Hornet in 20 minutes.
More in Radio-Controlled Helicopters and Model Aircraft 1-24
Spotted an error? Know more?
Reader corrections go straight into our review queue. Suggest an edit · How this site is sourced