Norway orders Black Hornet nUAS from Teledyne FLIR Defense

The Norwegian DMA has signed a large multi-year framework agreement with Teledyne FLIR Defense for their Black Hornet 3 nUAS. (Teledyne FLIR Defense)

The Norwegian Defense Materiel Agency (DMA) has signed a multi-year framework agreement with Teledyne FLIR Defense for an undisclosed number of Black Hornet 3 nano unmanned aerial systems (nUASs), the Norwegian government announced on 21 June.

According to the announcement, the framework agreement has a maximum value of NOK475 million (USD48.2 million), during a four-year period, after which the DMA can extend the agreement each year for up to three years. Overall, the agreement has a maximum duration of seven years, the announcement detailed.

As part of the agreement, the DMA has placed an initial NOK96 million order for an undisclosed number of Black Hornet 3 nUASs, with deliveries starting from either the third or the fourth quarter of 2022, the announcement said. Teledyne FLIR Defense was unable to comment on the number of systems ordered.

The Black Hornet is a nUAS developed and manufactured by FLIR Systems (now Teledyne FLIR Defense). It is a further development on the PD-100 Black Hornet, initially developed by Norwegian company Prox Dynamics, which was acquired by FLIR Systems in 2016.

Gro Jære, director of DMA, said that the systems would be available for all branches of their armed forces, and that the DMA is now one of the largest customers for the Black Hornet 3, the government states.

The structure of the framework agreement gives other companies the opportunity to deliver nUASs to the Norwegian Armed Forces after the four-year period, should they meet the users' requirements, the announcement detailed.