FLIR Systems wins contract from US Army for video surveillance drones

FLIR Systems has been awarded a $2.6 million order from the United States Army for airborne video surveillance units.

Specifically, FLIR will provide its Black Hornet Personal Reconnaissance Systems (PRS), which is used by soldiers for surveillance and reconnaissance.

The FLIR Black Hornet PRS equips the dismounted soldier with immediate covert situational awareness. This technology bridges the gap between aerial and ground-based sensors, providing the same amount of situational awareness as larger units, FLIR said. This pocket-sized unit is extremely light and nearly silent with a flight time of up to 25 minutes. It transmits live video and HD still images back to the operator.

“The United States Army’s selection of FLIR to provide the Black Hornet PRS in this initial delivery of the Soldier Borne Sensor program represents a key opportunity to provide soldiers in every U.S. Army squad a critical advantage on the modern battlefield,” James Cannon, president and CEO of FLIR Systems, said. “This contract demonstrates the strong demand for nano-drone technology offered by FLIR and opens the way for broad deployment across all branches of the military. We’re proud to provide the highly-differentiated Black Hornet PRS to help support the U.S. Government to achieve the objective of protecting its warfighters.”

FLIR’s Black Hornet PRS systems have been sold to some 30 nations around the world. In this contract, the U.S. Army will receive the latest generation of the system under the Soldier Borne Sensor (SBS) program.