Teledyne FLIR announces Black Recon micro drone for continuous reconnaissance, targeting

The drone is designed to deliver continuous, untethered reconnaissance and real-time targeting data in contested environments from military vehicles and fixed installations.

Black Recon reportedly allows crews to launch, operate, recover, and recharge up to three unmanned aerial systems without leaving their platform, reducing risk and accelerating decision-making.

Each UAV launches autonomously, performs reconnaissance, surveillance, and target acquisition missions, then returns to the launcher for capture, docking and recharging.

“Black Recon represents a major step forward in integrated reconnaissance for ground forces,” according to Dr. JihFen Lei, President of Teledyne Defense and Aerospace Group and Senior Vice President of Teledyne Technologies.

“By bringing autonomous launch, recovery, and recharging directly to the vehicle, we give operators persistent situational awareness, faster access to actionable intelligence, and greater protection in high-tempo missions.”

Key system capabilities include autonomous launch, recovery, and recharge from the safety of the platform; as well as thermal and visible payloads for real-time imagery and targeting data, Global Navigation Satellite System-denied operation enabled by advanced sensors and visual navigation, radio-silent missions using Visual Inertial Navigation without reliance on RF links, extended range and radio coverage through onboard relay capability, compatible operation with Black Hornet 4 nano-drone, optional 100-gram mission modules for future lethality, sensor, and CBRN payloads; as well as a fully Integrated, Autonomous Reconnaissance Capability.

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The drone has 50 to 60 minute flight times and speeds up to 25 m/s per UAV to support continuous target tracking, rapid threat detection and shortening the decision cycle across all mission profiles.

Weighing less than 450 grams, each Black Recon UAV combines low size, weight, and power with advanced sensing derived from Teledyne FLIR Defense’s proven nano-UAS portfolio. Autonomous navigation allows missions to continue in GPS-jammed or spoofed environments.

Black Recon’s open mission-module architecture is built to evolve with operational requirements. Planned future modules include lethality payloads and CBRN detection sensors, expanding the system from persistent reconnaissance to hazard detection and active engagement.