The Norwegian defense minister announced on Wednesday, Aug. 24, that Norway and Britain would work together to supply Ukraine with micro drones to help the country in its war against Russia.
As reported first by Reuters, the Teledyne Flir Black Hornet drones are used for target identification and reconnaissance. They are expected to cost up to 90 million Norwegian crowns ($9.26 million), according to a statement from the ministry.
Pocket-Sized Drones
According to Teledyne Flir, the black hornet drones provide the dismounted non-specialist soldier with quick covert situational awareness (SA). It also has cutting-edge electro-optical (EO) and infrared technology that eliminates the divide between aerial and ground-based sensors.
The pocket-sized, combat-tested Black Hornet PRS drones weigh very little and are almost silent. They also send live video and HD photographs back to the operator for up to 25 minutes of flight duration.
It is worth noting that Teledyne Flir only inked a $48 million Black Hornet deal with Norway in July 2022.
According to DroneDJ, these developments represent significant victories for Teledyne Technologies, based in Thousand Oaks, and its Teledyne Flir Defense division.
The most recent of the two was a deal for Black Hornet nano personal aerial reconnaissance drones signed in late June with the Norwegian Defence Materiel Agency.
Tiny But Potent UAVs
Norway only started deploying these tiny but potent information-gathering UAVs in 2015, but after the deal, it is now the world's largest user of these devices, as per DroneDJ.
The electro-optical and infrared sensors built into the UAV, according to Teledyne Flir, guarantee the same detecting skills that larger or ground-based drones demonstrate.
The drones have a maximum flying time of 25 minutes and provide operators with live thermal video and image feeds.
Several NATO and non-alliance nations in Europe were stepping up their defense capabilities as Russia waged war against Ukraine at the time of the transaction.
More than 12,000 of the intelligence collecting drones have already been delivered to military defense clients all around the world by Teledyne Flir Defense, which also continues to develop and manufacture the Black Hornet line in Norway.
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Written by Joaquin Victor Tacla
