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FLIGHTBRIEF
DEFENSEMilitary DronesBlue UASNDAA

Black Hornet 4

A 70-gram reconnaissance helicopter a single soldier carries and flies, bought by the US Army since 2018 and sold to forces in more than 45 countries.

FlightBriefSpecs checked Sep 28, 2026 against the manufacturer's page

Black Hornet 4 nano-helicopter drone in side view, grey body with a camera pod under the nose and a thin tail rotor, on a white background
Image: Teledyne FLIR
Weight
70 g aircraft; 1.3 kg system
Flight time
30+ min
Price
Contract only
Launched
Oct 10, 2023
Made by
Teledyne FLIR

Where to buyGovernment contract; Teledyne FLIR direct

The Black Hornet 4 is a nano-drone: a small helicopter weighing 70 grams, with day and thermal cameras, that a soldier carries and launches for close reconnaissance. Teledyne FLIR unveiled it at the Association of the US Army conference in Washington on 10 October 2023, as the successor to the Black Hornet 3. It is made in Norway.

The US Army buys it under its Soldier Borne Sensor programme. In October 2024 Teledyne FLIR won a five-year contract for Phase II worth up to $91 million, with $25 million in initial orders. The company said in June 2025 that US orders for Black Hornet systems totalled more than $300 million since 2018, and that more than 33,000 units had gone to military and security forces in more than 45 countries.

Specifications

SpecificationBlack Hornet 4
Aircraft weight70 g
System weight1.3 kg (depending on configuration)
Flight timeMore than 30 minutes
RangeMore than 3 km
Ground speedUp to 10 m/s
WindUp to 25 knots, plus gusts (12 m/s)
Day camera12 MP, with low-light capability
Thermal cameraHigh-resolution thermal imager (resolution not published)
NavigationDesigned for GPS-denied and contested environments; obstacle avoidance
Environmental standardMIL-STD-810H
Country of manufactureNorway

All figures are Teledyne FLIR’s published specifications, checked against the manufacturer’s product page on 28 September 2026. FlightBrief has not flown the aircraft.

A note on range. At the launch in October 2023, Teledyne FLIR gave the range as more than 2 km. Its product page and its June 2025 release give more than 3 km. The company has not said what changed; the current figure is used above.

Blue UAS

The Black Hornet 4 was approved for the Blue UAS list in June 2025. Teledyne FLIR said it had completed the NDAA and cybersecurity verification process and received an Authority to Operate. It is manufactured in Norway, which shows that the list is about supply chain and security, not only about US manufacture. See the Blue UAS Cleared List guide.

Use Cases

Close reconnaissance by a single soldier or a small team: checking a building before entering, looking over a ridge or around a vehicle, watching a route. Teledyne FLIR sells it on its small size and its “extraordinarily low visual and audible signatures”, which matter more for this work than range or payload.

Market Context

The Red Cat Black Widow, the Army’s short-range reconnaissance drone, weighs about 2 kg and flies further and longer; it is the next step up rather than a rival. The Black Hornet 4’s position rests on Army use of Black Hornets since 2018 and on the Soldier Borne Sensor contracts.

Compared

SpecificationBlack Hornet 4Black Widow
Weight70 g aircraft; 1.3 kg system1.93 kg (4.26 lb)
Flight time30+ min45+ min
PriceContract onlyOn request
Where to buyGovernment contract; Teledyne FLIR directGovernment procurement; Red Cat quotes on request
LaunchedOct 10, 2023—

Figures are the manufacturers' published specifications, as on each product's page.