Black Hornet

The Black Hornet is a military micro unmanned aerial vehicle developed by Prox Dynamics AS of Norway and manufactured by Teledyne FLIR, which acquired Prox Dynamics in 2016 for $134 million. Designed for dismounted infantry reconnaissance, the rotorcraft weighs 18 g with battery and measures roughly 16 × 2.5 cm, providing platoon- and squad-level surveillance. It saw operational use with British forces in Afghanistan and has been adopted by more than 20 armed forces.

Development

The system was developed by Prox Dynamics under a £20 million contract for 160 units placed through Marlborough Communications Ltd. In July 2014 the U.S. Army Natick Soldier Research, Development and Engineering Center selected the PD-100 Black Hornet under the Cargo Pocket Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (CP-ISR) programme, concluding that reconfiguration of the data link, night vision, and improved navigation were required for U.S. Army use. Testing with U.S. troops took place in early March 2015, and an upgraded PD-100 was delivered for special forces evaluation in June 2015. Over 3,000 units had been delivered by 2014; FLIR reported more than 12,000 delivered by May 2020. In January 2019 the U.S. Army awarded FLIR an initial $39.7 million contract for Black Hornet 3 systems under the Soldier Borne Sensor (SBS) programme, followed by a further $20.6 million order in May 2020. Unit cost was reported as high as US$195,000 for the early, individually handmade production, which the Army considered too expensive for issue to every squad.

Design

The air vehicle is linked to its operator by a digital data link and GPS, with imagery displayed on a handheld terminal that also serves as the control unit. It is launched from a small box strapped to a utility belt, which stores the transmitted data; the aircraft itself retains no data, limiting exploitation if captured. Operators can fly the vehicle manually or set waypoints for autonomous flight, and training takes about 20 minutes. Three cameras are fitted: one forward-looking, one vertical, and one angled 45 degrees down. Top speed is 21 km/h and endurance is 20 to 25 minutes, matching the recharge time to 90 percent; a package contains two aircraft so one is always available. The October 2014 night-capable version added a long-wave infrared sensor alongside day video, with a data-link range of 1.6 km. Electric motors keep the aircraft quiet, and the airframe finish was chosen to blend with the grey mud walls of Afghan compounds.

Operational History

The British Army had 324 Black Hornets in service by October 2013, operated by the Brigade Reconnaissance Force at Camp Bastion. Operation Herrick personnel flew it into enemy-held ground to look around corners and over walls before returning imagery to the operator. It was withdrawn in 2016–2017 and reintroduced in April 2019 through Defence Equipment and Support to address a brigade-level uncrewed reconnaissance gap. U.S. Marine Corps special operations teams deployed with the type from 2015. The U.S. Army bought 60 Hornet 3 units in 2018, 300 more in 2022, and an undisclosed quantity in 2023, some destined for Ukraine. By September 2016 it was in service with 19 NATO-allied countries; other users include Norway, France, Germany, Denmark, Australia, the Netherlands, Poland, New Zealand, Turkey, Spain, Switzerland, Greece, Malaysia, Indonesia, Algeria, Morocco, Ireland, Ukraine and Vietnam.

Variants

• PD-100 Black Hornet: Original Prox Dynamics production model, with a night-capable long-wave infrared version unveiled in October 2014.
• Black Hornet 3 PRS: Personal Reconnaissance System supplied to the U.S. Army under the Soldier Borne Sensor programme, with flight time up to 25 minutes and HD still imagery.
• Black Hornet 4 PRS: Current-production airborne personal reconnaissance system for dismounted soldiers, with a data-link range of over 3 km and endurance of more than 30 minutes.
• Black Recon: Larger 350 g derivative revealed in 2023 after five years of development, with 6 km range and 45-minute endurance, launched from an 80 kg three-aircraft Vehicle Reconnaissance System box mounted on armoured vehicles, with deliveries expected from 2025.