Teledyne FLIR Defense has won a $17.5 million contract to deliver a significant number of its Black Hornet 4 nano unmanned aerial systems to Switzerland. The compact drones will enhance the operational capabilities of the Swiss Army’s Piranha 8×8 armored engineering vehicles by serving as a dismountable intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) sensor.
As part of the agreement, Teledyne FLIR will modify the Black Hornet’s software to integrate seamlessly with the Piranha’s digital architecture, enabling real-time aerial video feeds to be transmitted directly to the vehicle and its crew. The integration will be supported by an Integrated Combat Solution, with Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace responsible for ensuring system compatibility. This setup will also allow the drone to generate target coordinates for the Piranha’s remote weapon station, beyond standard video transmission.
The company noted that the Piranha platform will be capable of launching and recovering the Black Hornet while on the move. Measuring 255 millimeters in length with a 190-millimeter rotor span, the Black Hornet 4 can fly at speeds of up to 10 meters per second. Designed for rapid hand launch in under 20 seconds, the nano drone can conduct reconnaissance missions within a 2-kilometer radius, collecting optical, acoustic, and electromagnetic data. It is capable of operating in wind gusts up to 25 knots and temperatures ranging from –20 to 43 degrees Celsius.
