Your Army

This minidrone can transform squad-level reconnaissance

May 31, 2018
The Army's Rapid Equipping Office continues to upgrade drone and counter-drone technology for soldiers downrange such as the Black Hornet version 3. (Todd South/Military Times)

The Army has made its first batch order of a helicopter-style minidrone that can be used by individual soldiers for short range reconnaissance.

If the “Black Hornet” continues to perform at Army expectations in ongoing tests it could be one of the soldier-borne sensors distributed across Army infantry units.

The PD-100 Black Hornet was first purchased by the Army in small quantities to meet recon needs of troops in Afghanistan in 2016. It weighs 18 grams, can shoot video and take snapshots with its camera and previous versions had about a 25-minute flight time.

Some mini-drones can only shoot video.

The FLIR Systems drone is part of a $2.6 million contract for personal reconnaissance systems.

“The United States Army’s selection of FLIR to provide the Black Hornet PRS in this initial delivery of the Soldier Borne Sensor program represents a key opportunity to provide soldiers in every U.S. Army squad a critical advantage on the modern battlefield,” said James Cannon, President and CEO of FLIR Systems.

Fear of missing out?

Thanks for signing up.

The Black Hornet is the first batch order for the Soldier Borne Sensor program. Low level sensors have been a focus across squad, platoon and company efforts for both Army and Marine programs.

The Army recently contracted with FLIR Systems to order $2.6 million worth of the
The Army recently contracted with FLIR Systems to order $2.6 million worth of the "Black Hornet" mini-drone. In use since 2016, the next generation version of the helicopter-like drone could reach infantry units across the Army (Pfc. Rhita Daniel/Marine Corps)

The Marines have also tested the Black Hornet.

Officials with the Army’s Rapid Equipping Force told Army Times earlier this year that the new version of the Black Hornet will be nearly twice the size of past versions because the larger size will allow it to carry “payloads.”

REF officials did not identify what types of payloads might be used by the minidrone.

According to a FLIR Systems press release, delivery of the new Black Hornets is expected this calendar year. The company did not specify the quantity of drones to be supplied to the Army.

About

Todd South is a Marine veteran of the Iraq War. He has written about crime, courts, government and military issues for multiple publications since 2004. In 2014, he was named a Pulitzer finalist for local reporting on a project he co-wrote about witness problems in gang criminal cases. Todd covers ground combat for Military Times.

Recommended for you
Around The Web
Comments