Prox Dynamics Black Hornet Nano
Prox Dynamics · Norway · first flew 2012 · reconnaissance aircraft
The Black Hornet Nano is a miniature personal reconnaissance unmanned aerial vehicle (PRS) developed by Norwegian company Prox Dynamics, designed to be carried and operated by individual soldiers for over-the-horizon situational awareness in urban and field environments.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, rotary |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × electric, fuselage-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 0.168 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Palm-sized nano helicopter UAV weighing under 20 grams
- Miniature coaxial or single-rotor design for soldier ISR
- Fits in a shirt pocket for frontline reconnaissance
Unmistakably tiny — roughly 16 cm long and weighing 18 g — with a single main rotor and small tail; the provided 10 m length is corrupt data, correct length is approximately 0.168 m.
Specifications
- The Prox Dynamics Black Hornet Nano has a length of 0.168 m (1 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 0.12 m (0 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 21 km/h (13 mph).
- Typical crew: 0 (unmanned).
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Developed by Prox Dynamics of Norway and first fielded by the British Army in Afghanistan around 2012–2013, the Black Hornet quickly attracted attention for its extraordinary miniaturisation. FLIR Systems acquired Prox Dynamics in 2016 and continued development of improved variants.
Variants
The Black Hornet 1 was the original British Army version; the Black Hornet 2 offered improved performance, and the Black Hornet 3 (PD-100) added day/night cameras and extended range, entering service with multiple NATO armies.
Where you'll see it
Used operationally by British, US, Australian, Norwegian, and other allied forces; the Black Hornet has seen combat use in Afghanistan and other theatres and is a standard issue item for some infantry units.
Related aircraft
AircraftIQ — the aircraft field guide: 5,024 recognition guides, live overhead identification, works offline.