Teledyne FLIR Black Hornet

Lore & Background

The Black Hornet was developed as part of a £20 million contract for 160 units with Marlborough Communications Ltd. It is launched from a small box that can be strapped to a utility belt, which also stores transmitted data. The drone does not store any data itself, so capture does not compromise information. Operators can steer the UAV or set waypoints for it to fly autonomously. It has three cameras: one forward, one straight down, and one at 45 degrees downward. A package contains two helicopters; while one recharges in 20–25 minutes, the other is ready to fly. In October 2014, a version with night vision capabilities was unveiled, featuring long-wave infrared and day video sensors. Over 3,000 Black Hornets had been delivered as of 2014.

The Black Hornet was used by soldiers from the UK's Brigade Reconnaissance Force at Camp Bastion in Afghanistan during Operation Herrick, flying into enemy territory to take video and still images. It was withdrawn from service in 2016/2017. Designed to blend with muddy grey walls in Afghanistan, it could fly for 20 minutes on quiet electric motors to look around corners or over walls. The US Army selected the PD-100 in July 2014 under the Cargo Pocket Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance program, later testing it in March 2015 and deploying it with US Marine Corps special operations teams by 2015. In 2018 the US Army bought 60 Hornet 3 drones, and in 2022 another 300; an undisclosed number were bought in 2023, some intended for Ukraine.

Reader's Guide

The Black Hornet's significance lies in its role as a pocket-sized reconnaissance asset for dismounted troops, filling a capability gap for brigade-level uncrewed reconnaissance. Its small size and quiet operation allowed soldiers to observe over walls and obstacles without exposing themselves to danger. The drone's design—no onboard data storage, rapid recharge, and dual-helicopter packaging—addressed operational security and continuous availability. Its adoption by at least 19 NATO-allied countries by September 2016 and continued procurement by the US Army and other forces underscore its lasting utility. The later Black Recon variant, revealed in 2023, extended the concept to armored vehicle launch, indicating the platform's evolution. The Black Hornet's legacy is as a pioneering micro UAV that demonstrated the tactical value of personal reconnaissance drones, influencing subsequent soldier-borne sensor programs despite its high unit cost.

Did You Know?

• The Black Hornet weighs only 18 g with its battery and measures 16 × 2.5 cm.
• An operator can be trained to fly the Black Hornet in 20 minutes.
• The Black Hornet was used by UK forces in Afghanistan during Operation Herrick.