Switzerland has awarded Teledyne FLIR Defense a $17.5 million contract for the procurement of large quantities of the Black Hornet 4 nano drone, strengthening its tactical reconnaissance capabilities. The lightweight UAS will be integrated into operations involving the Piranha 8×8 armored engineering vehicle, providing a portable ISR capability for dismounted and vehicle-mounted troops.
Under the contract, the Black Hornet’s software will be re-engineered to align with the Piranha’s existing digital systems, allowing live aerial imagery to be streamed directly to the vehicle crew. Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace will support the effort through its Integrated Combat Solution, enabling not only video relay but also the generation of targeting data for the Piranha’s remote turret.
Teledyne FLIR stated that the system will allow the Piranha to deploy and retrieve the nano drone while maneuvering. The Black Hornet 4 is 255 millimeters long, features a 190-millimeter rotor diameter, and reaches flight speeds of up to 10 meters per second. Designed for rapid hand launch, the drone gathers optical, acoustic, and electromagnetic intelligence within a 2-kilometer operational range and is capable of functioning in wind conditions up to 25 knots and temperatures between –20 and 43 degrees Celsius.
