Switzerland buys Black Hornet 4 nano-drones for Piranha vehicles

The Swiss government has approved the procurement of Black Hornet 4 nano-drones for integration with its Piranha 8×8 armored engineering vehicles, following a newly awarded defense contract announced on February 2, 2026.

Teledyne FLIR Defense said it received a $17.5 million contract from armasuisse, the Swiss Federal Office of Defence Procurement, to supply a large number of Black Hornet 4 Personal Reconnaissance Systems. The drones were selected to serve as an airborne, dismountable intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capability for Switzerland’s Piranha 8×8 armored vehicle program.

Under the contract, the Black Hornet 4 has been integrated into the digital architecture of the Piranha 8×8, enabling real-time data sharing between the nano-drone and vehicle crew. Live video feeds, target data, and coordinates collected by the drone will be displayed directly on the vehicle’s onboard systems, providing commanders and operators with immediate situational awareness.

According to the company, the integration was achieved through harmonized military standards and connects the Black Hornet 4 to the vehicle’s Integrated Combat Solution, supplied by Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace. This setup allows drone operators to connect the Black Hornet control tablet to the vehicle network during both mounted and dismounted operations.

In practical terms, operators can launch the nano-drone by hand from inside or alongside the vehicle, fly reconnaissance missions while on the move, and share all collected data simultaneously with the vehicle crew. The system also allows the Black Hornet to receive waypoint instructions from the vehicle’s combat system and, in return, generate target points that can be passed to the vehicle’s remote weapon station.

The company noted that the solution is fully detachable, meaning operators can dismount from the vehicle, continue flying the drone, and later reattach to the vehicle network without interrupting the mission. This approach is designed to support flexible operations in complex terrain and urban environments.

“This first fielded-vehicle integration for the Black Hornet 4 highlights its unique tactical capabilities as a force multiplier,” said Dr. JihFen Lei, president of Teledyne FLIR Defense and senior vice president of Teledyne Technologies. He added that providing the same situational data to all vehicle systems and crew members helps streamline decision-making during operations.

The Black Hornet 4 represents the latest generation of lightweight nano-drones designed for small-unit reconnaissance. Weighing approximately 70 grams, the system is equipped with a 12-megapixel daytime camera and a high-resolution thermal imager for day and night operations. The drone can fly for more than 30 minutes, operate at ranges exceeding three kilometers, and function in winds up to 25 knots, including in rain and GPS-denied environments.

Teledyne FLIR Defense said the Black Hornet 4 also incorporates obstacle avoidance features and flight-control software designed to support operations in contested environments. The system is intended to provide covert situational awareness without exposing dismounted troops or vehicle crews to direct observation.

The first vehicle-integrated Black Hornet 4 systems were delivered to Switzerland in 2025, with remaining deliveries scheduled to be completed during 2026. Teledyne FLIR has previously delivered more than 35,000 Black Hornet drones to military and security forces across more than 45 countries, with the systems designed and manufactured in Norway.