Switzerland selects Teledyne FLIR Black Hornet 4 nano UAV

Armasuisse has ordered the Black Hornet 4 nano UAV for Swiss Armed Forces Piranha 8×8 armoured engineer vehicles. (Teledyne FLIR)

Armasuisse, the Swiss Federal Office for Defence Procurement, has awarded Teledyne FLIR a USD17.5 million contract for the Black Hornet 4 nano unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to support intelligence gathering from Swiss Armed Forces Piranha 8×8 armoured engineer vehicles, the Oslo-based company announced in a press release on 2 February.

The company said a “large number” of nano UAVs would be delivered, but programme officials would not reveal the exact number of platforms to be supplied. Deliveries began in 2025 and continue in 2026.

Teledyne FLIR told Janes the contract represents the first time Black Hornet 4 UAVs have been integrated into the digital backbone of an armoured vehicle. UAVs will be used to support airborne, dismountable intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance with the airframes integrated into the vehicle's Integrated Combat Solution (ICS), designed by Kongsberg.

Under the set-up, the UAV's live video stream will be shared on vehicle displays and provide target data, co-ordinates, and other situational awareness to vehicle commanders and crew. UAV operators will be able to connect the Black Hornet control tablet to the vehicle's ICS for either dismounted or mobile operations, the company explained.

Live video feeds from the UAV can also be used to generate targeting information for vehicle remote weapon stations, it added.

“This first fielded vehicle integration for the Black Hornet 4 highlights its unique tactical capabilities as a force multiplier,” said JihFen Lei, president of Teledyne FLIR Defense and senior vice-president of Teledyne Technologies. “By providing the same immediate situational data to all vehicle systems and crew, we can help reduce cognitive burden and boost warfighting effectiveness.”