World's smallest military reconnaissance drone from Ukraine captured by Russian military

The Russian military is said to have captured a valuable trophy from Ukrainian forces, a complete set of PD-100 Black Hornet Nano unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) – a device reputed to be one of the world's smallest military- grade drones.

According to information circulating on a number of Telegram channels, Russian special forces units successfully ambushed a detachment of the Ukrainian Kraken battalion in the vicinity of Novaya Tavolzhanka and captured a complete set of Nano PD-100 Black Hornet UAVs as their spoils.

Images show Russian commandos capturing Black Hornet UAV as booty

This is a type of micro-drone, transferred to Kiev through an aid agreement between Norway and the UK in August 2022. In which, the two countries pledged to provide Ukraine with 850 Black Hornet UAVs as part of a $64 million aid package.

Therefore, Russia's capture of the above spoils of war has great significance in researching to apply or develop similar technology in the context of UAV/drone "reigning" in the ongoing conflict.

For the Black Hornet, this is not the first time this palm-sized device has been “captured alive” on the battlefield. In 2020, Syrian forces were also said to have recovered a UAV of this type near the Tal Tamr area.

Since 2019, the US military has begun deploying the Black Hornet 3 to various units, including special forces groups that operate extensively in Syria, which have used this UAV since at least 2015.

The Black Hornet UAV was first used by British ground forces in combat in Afghanistan.

The micro-drone is manufactured by the US company Teledyne FLIR in Norway, stemming from the development efforts of Prox Dynamics AS, a Norwegian company acquired by FLIR in 2016.

Role in the war

The Black Hornet plays a vital role in enhancing situational awareness by allowing reconnaissance of out-of-sight areas, such as around blind corners or beyond walls, which can identify lurking threats to routine patrols of villages or target locations.

The UAV is designed with a durable plastic molded shell, providing stability in a variety of combat conditions, including storms. With an aerodynamic shape, this UAV can maintain stability throughout its operation.

Despite its small size, the Nano UAV is equipped with three surveillance cameras located at the front of the vehicle, enhancing its reconnaissance capabilities. The complete PD-100 Black Hornet system includes two UAVs and a base station, forming a comprehensive setup for operational deployment.

US special forces are believed to have used Black Hornet since 2015.

This drone is compact in size, about 100mm in length with a 120mm propeller span, and light in weight, only 32 grams including an integrated surveillance camera.

Due to its ultra-small design, the Black Hornet drone is considered an ideal vehicle for the Ukrainian military, allowing units to discreetly deploy to survey closed targets in enemy-occupied airspace, thereby minimizing the risk of ambushes and other potential threats.

The Black Hornet makes almost no sound from its propellers during operation, allowing it to easily penetrate windows or holes in walls to perform reconnaissance missions inside buildings.

This capability has proven invaluable in attacks and combat in urban environments, assisting Ukrainian forces in gaining critical insights and improving their operational effectiveness.

However, the Black Hornet drone is designed primarily for tactical operations rather than long-term reconnaissance over wide distances.

It has a maximum operating range of up to 2 km from the operator, so it can only be deployed at close range. Additionally, the Black Hornet's battery life allows the device to operate continuously for 25 minutes before needing to be recharged.

(According to EurAsian Times)

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