What is a Black Hornet drone?

What is a Black Hornet drone?

Black Hornet drones are a nano surveillance and reconnaissance drone that is equipped with advanced cameras (IR/EO). The United States DOD announced in June of 2023 that they would be sending these military drones to Ukraine as a part of the most recent aid package. These are the first known drones of this size class, each drone is a little over 6.5″ and can fly for over 25-minutes making them powerful tools for fast-moving ground operations.

Watch this demo video to see how a Black Hornet is used for threat detection and modern combat:

How does a Black Hornet drone work?

The Black Hornet is a nano drone that can fly for 25 minutes, and is easy to operate even for beginners. It is designed to be deployed with infantry in the field and help provide immediate surveillance during combat missions. The IR camera for example can let forward units easily find threats or potentially minimize collateral damage in an attack. The Black Hornet can also be deployed on a military vehicle, like an armored tank which can help that vehicle make real-time battlefield decisions.

Who makes Black Hornet drones?

Teledyne FLIR makes Black Hornet drones as a part of its military offerings but is more well known for its thermal camera offerings. FLIR has been on the cutting edge of making smaller and more affordable IR cameras – with several consumer offerings. This product offering from Teledyne FLIR is interesting because it is a pretty advanced end user application and includes other specializations.

How do Black Hornet drones work with other drones?

Black Hornet drones will be most useful for forward positions that are attempting to take on an enemy position; as such they could be useful for conducting advanced surveillance before launching a self-destructing drone like the Altuis-600 or a Switchblade-600.

Why is the US sending nano drones to Ukraine?

The war along the front line has intensified with Ukraine’s push over the summer and the ground is being gained slowly. In part because the Ukraine is now the most heavily mined country in the world and also because heavily entrenched Russian positions are proving difficult to attack without large causalities. The more surveillance and intelligence the Ukrainian army can use – the more they can reduce their own losses.

Do other countries use Black Hornet drones?

Yes – many including Norway, the United States, France, the United Kingdom, Germany, Algeria, Ireland, Australia, the Netherlands, Poland, New Zealand, India, Turkey, South Africa, Ukraine and Morocco.

How much does a Black Hornet drone cost?

Black Hornet drones are expensive, at 195K a pop you don’t want to misplace these tiny drones.