Teledyne FLIR Defense has been awarded a five-year Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract valued at up to $93.9 million to supply its Black Hornet 3 Personal Reconnaissance Systems (PRS) to the United States Army.
Under the initial award of this IDIQ contract, Teledyne FLIR Defense will provide the nano-unmanned aerial systems (UAS), controllers, spare parts, and training to the U.S. Army. The Black Hornet 3 drones are a part of the Soldier Borne Sensor (SBS) program initiated by the U.S. Army in 2018. Since then, the Army has placed orders exceeding $125 million for the versatile drone, which enhances squad and small unit surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities.
Weighing a mere 33 grams, the Black Hornet PRS operates silently and boasts a flight time of up to 25 minutes. The pocket-sized drone is combat-proven and capable of transmitting live video and HD still images to the operator. This covert situational awareness tool empowers soldiers to perform missions with increased safety and effectiveness, making it well-suited for use in contested environments.
The Black Hornet drones have already been successfully deployed by Ukrainian forces, courtesy of donations from the British and Norwegian governments. This month, Norway's Ministry of Defense placed an order for an additional 1,000 UAS systems. The drones have consistently demonstrated their capabilities in various operations under challenging conditions. To date, FLIR Defense has delivered over 20,000 Black Hornet PRS systems to military and security forces in more than 40 countries.
Dr. JihFen Lei, Executive Vice President, and General Manager of FLIR Defense expressed enthusiasm for the contract, stating,
"The Black Hornet 3 gives warfighters up-to-the-minute situational understanding before and while they conduct missions. We are proud to provide this unique capability to our soldiers and honored by the U.S. Army's long-term commitment through the new IDIQ, building on its previous orders under the SBS program."
Lei also emphasized FLIR Defense's ongoing investment in developing unmanned platforms and smart sensors, which are proving their effectiveness in various operational theaters worldwide. These technologies are significantly reshaping the modern battlefield.
The award-winning Black Hornet 3 is designed and manufactured by FLIR Defense in Norway.
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