U.S. Army takes its pocket-sized reconnaissance drone to Afghanistan

Best armies use multiple techniques for reconnaissance missions, with the latest technology such as Unmanned Aerial Vehicles enabling close-up exploration of the battle zone. These systems play a very important part in enhancing the safety of soldiers heading into potential danger, as well as those tasked with gathering the important data.

Pocket-sized black Hornet Drone of FLIR systems is getting increased attention.

Several years in development, the remotely controlled, camera-equipped copter is heading to Afghanistan this month with the 82nd Airborne Division, marking the debut deployment of the tiny drone in the war-torn country, Stars and Stripes reported.

The U.S. Army started testing the drone three years ago, and since then FLIR Systems has gone on to ink additional deals with not only the U.S. military but also the British and French armies. In fact, the U.K. government recently gave a clear demonstration of its belief in the technology when it placed an order 30 more Black Hornets.

The cost of that particular purchase is believed to be 1.4 million British pounds (the nearly U.S. $1.8 million), working out to about $60,000 per drone. That’s certainly a hefty chunk of cash, but the flying machine offers a number of major advantages over cheaper, more conventional drone technology currently on the market.

First, at just 16.8cm in length, the twin-rotor Black Hornet is tiny, making it easy to transport, and, more importantly, hard to spot when it’s in the air. It’s also pretty much silent, increasing its stealthiness as it goes about exploring the enemy territory. During flights lasting up to 25 minutes, and with the machine travelling at up to 6 meters (20 feet) per second, The 1.2-ounce drone can stream live video and HD still images through an encrypted data link connected to an operator located up to 1.2 miles away.

While the Black Hornet can be carried as a single unit by one soldier, FLIR Systems also offers a compact launch unit, which can be attached to a military vehicle and used to deploy up to four of the drones at a time.

The most recent design of the Black Hornet includes a night-vision camera, while another version allows a variety of components to be added according to the specifics of the mission.

Discussing the drone with Digital Trends last year, Ole Aguirre, an executive at Oregon-based FLIR Systems, talked about how the Black Hornet can be very useful for the urban environment for scouting rooftops, streets, and buildings for snipers or assault groups, enabling better-informed decisions during crucial moments as soldiers seek to take up new positions.

The Black Hornet’s imminent deployment to Afghanistan is the latest indication of how drone technology is playing an increasingly important role on the battlefield.

In May 2019, for example, French drone-maker Parrot selected by the U.S. Department of Defence along with six other companies to develop small, short-range aircraft for use by soldiers on the battlefield, the others being Skydio, Altavian, Teal Drones, Vantage Robotics, and Lumenier.

Parrot is expected to create a more advanced version of its Anafi quadcopter, which currently offers 4K video and 21-megapixel stills, a 25-minute flight time, and a range of around 2 miles.

Source: https://www.digitaltrends.com/cool-tech/us-army-takes-its-pocket-sized-reconnaissance-drone-to-afghanistan/