FLIR Systems, Inc. announced it has won an additional $15.4 million contract to deliver its FLIR Black Hornet® 3 Personal Reconnaissance Systems (PRS) to the U.S. Army. In late 2018, the U.S. Army began acquiring Black Hornet 3’s to support the Soldier Borne Sensor (SBS) effort. Since then, it has placed orders totaling more than $85 million for the FLIR nano-UAV. The advanced nano-unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are being used to augment squad and small unit-level surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities as part of the U.S. Army’s Soldier Borne Sensor (SBS) program.
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,” said Roger Wells, VP and general manager of Unmanned Systems & Integrated Solutions at FLIR. “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.”
The FLIR Black Hornet PRS equips the non-specialist dismounted soldier with immediate covert situational awareness (SA) with the same SA as a larger UAV and threat location capabilities of UGVs. Extremely light and well suited for operations in contested environments, nearly silent, and with a flight time up to 25 minutes, the combat-proven, pocket-sized Black Hornet PRS transmits 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.
Designed and built by FLIR in Norway, the Black Hornet systems’ delivery will start in the middle of this year. FLIR has delivered more than 12,000 Black Hornet nano-UAVs to defense and security forces worldwide. FLIR Systems, Inc. designs, develops, manufactures, markets, and distributes technologies that enhance perception and awareness. We bring innovative sensing solutions into daily life through our thermal imaging, visible-light imaging, video analytics, measurement and diagnostic, and advanced threat detection systems.
