Black Hornet UAV To Expand Growth To NATO Countries

With the UAV market expanding into a multi-billion dollar industry around the world, companies are quickly launching their birds into new markets.

The PD-100 Black Hornet Personal Reconnaissance System (PRS) is the world’s first operational nano UAS system will be marketed to NATO countries next year, ProxDynamics told Defenseworld.net

Designed to support dismounted soldier and first responders operations, the Black Hornet provides lower echelon units with an organic and immediate airborne ISR capability with minimal increase in equipment volume and weight. 

The PD-100 PRS has unique capabilities; it can fly within confined areas, is considered inherently safe, is covert, silent and extremely easy to use, according to Ole Aguirre, Vice President, sales and head marketing for ProxDynamics.

The PD-100 Black Hornet entered service in 2012 and is deployed to operational theatre with international forces. It is used to look inside compounds and clear routes through hostile areas, and provides its users with enhanced situational awareness. It has proven to be very easy to use and requires only a few hours of training. The complete system is easily carried by a single operator.

“The “Black Hornet” is currently used by a limited number of NATO countries, and is only sold to Government users. The system is only marketed in the NATO+ market, but this may expand during the next year, he added.”

The “Black Hornet” is the only system the company has developed for full scale production. “There are a number of other developments within the company that until today is not in full- scale production. We also have a very clear roadmap for future developments within the company,” Aguirre said.

According to a 2012 study, the UAV market is all set to double over the next decade from $6.6 billion annually to $11.4 billion.

Last week, U.S President Barack Obama announced strict rules for drones strikes against terror suspects abroad thus laying out a standard for using “lethal force” outside warzones.

He added that lethal force could be used when no other alternatives exist. He defense the use of drones saying, they "have saved lives" by eliminating terrorists, and are a legal part of a "just war" against terror outfits.