– Teledyne FLIR Defense, part of Teledyne Technologies, has received a $17.5 million contract from armasuisse, the Swiss Federal Office of Defence Procurement, to supply Black Hornet 4 Personal Reconnaissance Systems – among the world’s most advanced and widely deployed nano-drones.
Black Hornet 4 was selected as an airborne, dismountable Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) sensor for the Piranha 8×8 armored engineering vehicle program. Its software has been adapted to integrate with the vehicle’s digital infrastructure, enabling live video, target data, and coordinates to be shared across onboard displays for commanders and crew. The system connects via standardized military interfaces to the vehicle’s Integrated Combat Solution (ICS), supplied by Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace.
Operators can link the Black Hornet control tablet to the ICS for both mounted and dismounted use. After hand-launching the drone from the vehicle, they can conduct reconnaissance while data streams in real time to the crew. The drone can receive waypoints from the ICS and generate target points for the vehicle’s Remote Weapon Station. The setup is fully detachable, allowing operators to dismount and reconnect while the drone remains airborne.
“This first vehicle integration of Black Hornet 4 highlights its role as a force multiplier,” said Dr. JihFen Lei, president of Teledyne FLIR Defense. “Shared situational data reduces cognitive load and enhances effectiveness.”
Weighing 70 grams, Black Hornet 4 carries a 12-megapixel daylight camera and high-resolution thermal imager. It flies over 30 minutes, more than three kilometers, in GPS-denied environments, rain, and 25-knot winds, with advanced obstacle avoidance.
Initial vehicle-integrated systems were delivered in 2025; remaining deliveries continue through 2026. Teledyne FLIR has supplied more than 35,000 Black Hornets to users in over 45 countries.
Source: Teledyne FLIR Defense