Teledyne FLIR Defense, a division of Teledyne Technologies, has announced that its Black Hornet® 4 Personal Reconnaissance System has passed cybersecurity and NDAA verification, earning its place on the Blue UAS List with full operational clearance.
Overseen by the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU), the Blue UAS program certifies commercial drone platforms for use by the Department of Defense and other government entities. Teledyne FLIR’s Black Hornet 4 was selected from over 35 UAVs during DIU’s ‘Blue UAS Refresh’ trials held earlier this year.
The Black Hornet 4 is a lightweight nano-drone built for stealth reconnaissance by small military teams. It features a 12MP camera and high-definition thermal sensor, delivering precise imagery and video in real time. Weighing just 70 grams, it supports over 30 minutes of flight across a 3-kilometer range, with advanced wind and weather resistance.
To support growing demand, Teledyne FLIR opened a 13,000-square-foot facility in Somerset, Kentucky in May to handle Black Hornet maintenance, testing, and training for U.S. forces.
More than 33,000 Black Hornet drones have been delivered to over 45 countries. The U.S. Army began acquiring them in 2018 through the Soldier Borne Sensor (SBS) program, placing orders exceeding $300 million under multiple contracts.
This globally recognized drone system is designed and manufactured in Norway by Teledyne FLIR Defense.
