“Flying binoculars” for the frontline
Interview with Harald Sørensen, Vice President
The war in Ukraine has accelerated a profound shift in modern warfare. Small, highly capable drones have become an essential part of the modern battlefield, providing real-time situational awareness in environments and at distances that previously required far greater risk. One of the companies at the forefront of this development is Norway’s FLIR Unmanned Aerial Systems AS. Best known for its Black Hornet nano drone, the company is now further expanding its portfolio with the newly launched Black Recon drone system.
European Business: Mr. Sørensen, you only recently joined FLIR. What attracted you to the role?
Harald Sørensen: I joined the company as Vice President in February this year after spending 33 years with the Kongsberg Group. My background spans both the defence and maritime industries. What attracted me most was the product itself. I had encountered Black Hornet earlier in my career and always regarded it as an exceptionally impressive technology. This role was therefore a natural fit for my experience.
European Business: How would you describe the company you inherited?
Harald Sørensen: I came into a very healthy business at Teledyne FLIR, so my role is about continuing a successful growth trajectory. Black Hornet has established a strong position globally, and one of our strategic priorities is to broaden the product portfolio. We’ve been developing and investing in new platforms that leverage Black Hornet’s unique technological capabilities to meet a wider range of missions in both military and civilian markets, so expanding our offering is an important long-term objective.
European Business: Can you outline the company’s development over the years?
Harald Sørensen: The business began in Norway in 2008 as Prox Dynamics. The first operational Black Hornet system was fielded in 2012. In 2016 the company was acquired by FLIR, followed by a major milestone in 2019 when Black Hornet secured a significant US Army Soldier Borne Sensor contract, helping to establish the product internationally. In 2021, FLIR became part of Teledyne Technologies, and we became Teledyne FLIR.
European Business: Teledyne is a very large group compared with the Norwegian business.
Harald Sørensen: Absolutely. Teledyne employs around 15,000 people globally and operates across a broad range of markets, including defence, healthcare, marine technologies and environmental monitoring. Despite our relatively modest size within the group, our products enjoy considerable visibility across the organization.
European Business: Black Hornet has become something of an icon in military drone technology. What makes it so distinctive?
Harald Sørensen: Its most distinctive feature is its size. It is a true nano drone that fits into the palm of your hand. The current Black Hornet 4 weighs around 72 grams and combines both day and thermal imagery in a single reusable platform. Another important capability is its ability to operate in confined spaces. Because of its size and stability, Black Hornet can be flown inside buildings and into locations that would otherwise require personnel to expose themselves to potential threats. The drone is also exceptionally discreet. Its very low acoustic and visual signature makes it extremely difficult to detect.
European Business: How widely is the system used today?
Harald Sørensen: Black Hornet has achieved a broad global market footprint. We have sold systems to more than 45 countries worldwide and count most NATO countries among our customers. The United States remains an important user and continues to acquire systems through existing framework agreements.
European Business: The company has now introduced Black Recon. Why was it important to develop a second major product?
Harald Sørensen: Black Recon represents an important strategic step for us. While Black Hornet remains focused on the nano-drone segment, Black Recon addresses a different operational requirement. It is significantly larger, weighing approximately 430 to 440 g, and has been under development for five to six years. Its defining characteristic is its modular architecture. The system can carry different payloads, including communications equipment and specialized sensors. Another key innovation is the launch unit, which enables multiple drones to be stored, launched and managed from a vehicle or fixed installation.
European Business: How has the market responded?
Harald Sørensen: We launched Black Recon only recently and are now actively marketing the system while accepting customer orders. Our goal is to secure the first signed orders this year and begin serial production in 2027.
European Business: What production volumes do you expect?
Harald Sørensen: For Black Hornet, we currently produce several thousand drones each year. For Black Recon, we expect lower volumes because of the size and cost of the system. By 2028, we anticipate annual production of a few hundred systems, with the flexibility to scale further should demand exceed expectations.
European Business: What distinguishes FLIR from the growing number of drone manufacturers entering the market?
Harald Sørensen: We operate in the nano- and micro-surveillance drone segment, not in the explosive or attack-drone market. Our strength lies in reliability, ease of use and military-grade robustness. These systems must perform in rain, wind, snow and extreme temperatures. That clearly differentiates them from lower-cost consumer-grade drones.
European Business: What are your biggest challenges?
Harald Sørensen: Recruiting technical talent is highly competitive, particularly within Norway’s defence sector. Sourcing of certain materials and components such as rare earth materials, remains a challenge for many industries these days, including defence.
But Teledyne’s decades of experience and proven supply chain management, combined with best-in-class manufacturing capabilities, means we are fully prepared to meet demand for our unmanned systems from customers worldwide.
European Business: What is next strategically?
Harald Sørensen: We will continue to develop Black Hornet because we believe it remains a uniquely valuable capability for soldiers on the ground. At the same time, our immediate objective is to secure strong market traction for Black Recon and establish it as a successful second product family. Looking further ahead, we intend to continue expanding our portfolio to build an even stronger and more resilient business for the future.