Teledyne FLIR Defense Wins $91 million deal for Black Hornet 4 UAS
The Black Hornet 4 UAS has been designed to be easy for soldiers to carry and launch quickly. (Photo: Teledyne FLIR Defense)
The Black Hornet 4 was unveiled 12 months ago and has an improved thermal sensor and an EO camera over the previous platform, and a forward-facing ultrasound sensor and navigation cameras on the top and sides.
Teledyne FLIR Defense will supply the US Army with Black Hornet 4 nano-UAS under a five-year deal which could be worth up to US$91 million, adding to the total $215 million spent on Black Hornet 3 nano-UAS by the army.
The Black Hornet 4s are being acquired under the Soldier Borne Sensor (SBS) programme Phase II and an initial order of $25 million has been placed which includes controllers, spare parts and training. Deliveries are expected to start in September.
The US Army began acquiring Black Hornet 3 systems for the original SBS programme in 2018 and has placed orders totalling more than $215 million under this requirement.
Black Hornets are in service with more than 40 countries and designed to support special operations and small unit surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities.
The latest version provides substantial improvements over the previous version with endurance increased from 25 minutes to 35 minutes and altitude doubled to 20,000ft. The speed increased to 36kmh from 21kmh and it can now operate in winds of 25kt as opposed to 10kt.
The endurance has been taken to 40 minutes under trials with the US Army. While the declared range was 2km, the army has again had the platform out to 3.5km.
Related Programmes in Defence Insight
Soldier Borne Sensor (SBS) (Phase I) [USA]
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Air Warfare
-
![Airbus to fly new CUAS UAV prototype this year]()
Airbus to fly new CUAS UAV prototype this year
The counter-UAS prototype, named Low-cost Air Defence or ‘LOAD’, will be used to combat kamikaze UAS.
-
![Taiwan receives first F-16 Block 70/72 aircraft]()
Taiwan receives first F-16 Block 70/72 aircraft
The aircraft is the first of 66 to be delivered to Taiwan from Lockheed Martin.
-
![Boeing to remanufacture five more US Army MH-47G Block II Chinooks]()
Boeing to remanufacture five more US Army MH-47G Block II Chinooks
The contract award, worth $240 million, is part of the ongoing effort by the US Army to modernise its Block II Chinook rotorcraft fleet.
-
![Avalon 2025: RAAF looks beyond 10 years to when future deliveries may restart]()
Avalon 2025: RAAF looks beyond 10 years to when future deliveries may restart
The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) has been substantially refreshed in the past two decades including F-35A and F/A-18F fighter aircraft, as well as the addition of transport aircraft such as C-17s, C-130 variants and C-27Js. Additional aircraft may only be a medium-term prospect.
-
![Avalon 2025: Australia’s missile and ordnance plans excite companies]()
Avalon 2025: Australia’s missile and ordnance plans excite companies
Australia’s Guided Weapons and Explosive Ordnance (GWEO) industrial plan is ambitious and promises big spending in an effort to create a local and sovereign capability. Companies at last week’s Australian International Airshow near Melbourne were making their pitches.
