Developed in Norway and presently produced by California-based Teledyne Flir, 850 Black Hornet microdrones are being sent to Ukraine to support their battle against Russia’s recent invasion. As announced by Norway’s Ministry of Defense on Wednesday, the UK and Norway are responsible for the additional aid to Ukraine. [i]
It is suggested that the $9.3 million Black Hornets would “give Ukraine the ability to not only spy on Russian positions but conduct more accurate weapons’ damage assessment.” Furthermore, because of the incredibly small size of the microdrones and their near silence, they are described as “more useful for close-in recon than consumer drones like the DJIs [unmanned commercial drone] widely used by Ukrainian forces which are audible from some distance. [ii]
The Black Hornet features a flight time of up to 25 minutes packed in its pocket-sized, combat-proven shell. In addition, the microdrone transmits live video and HD still images directly to the operator. It is beneficial for reconnaissance, target identification, and combat in urban areas, as seen in the Ukrainian-Russian conflict. [iii]
Ukraine will also receive a $10.4 million anti-drone system. The NightFighter by SteelRock Technologies is a portable system capable of protecting against drones by implementing effective jamming. Most notably, the system boasts that it is,
Particularly suitable for protecting smaller patrols, artillery positions and other important resources.” [iv]
In the ongoing conflict, it was reported on Aug. 20, 2022, that Russia allegedly downed several Ukrainian drones in Crimea. The provision of the NightFighter anti-drone system could potentially result from incidents like the one that occurred recently in Crimea. [v]
The video below details the most recent attack on Ukrainian drones.
References
[i] Bruce Crumley, UK, Norway send $9 million in Teledyne Flir drones to Ukraine, (Aug. 24, 2022)
[ii] Le Vanhao, Britain to donate Black Hornet ‘microdrones’ to Ukraine for spy missions, (Aug. 24, 2022)
[iii] Army Recognition, Norway and UK to donate Black Hornet micro drones and SteelRock Nightfighter anti-drone system to Ukraine, (Aug. 24, 2022)
[iv] Id.
[v] PBS, Russian air defense systems down Ukrainian drones in Crimea, (Aug. 20, 2022)
New alarming acts of intolerance on the UC campus: Now President demands he see all of the hate end
Anti-semitism is antitethical to our values and our campus codes of conduct and is unacceptable under our principles of community. It will not be tolerated. Similarly, Islamophobia is unacceptable and will not be tolerated. On November 10, 2023, Michael V. Drake, the President of the University of California San Diego, along with ten chancellors, wrote…
AI Privacy: Doctor Visit Recordings Spark Lawsuit in SD County
A major lawsuit in California is raising AI privacy alarms right here in San Diego and Orange County. It claims local healthcare providers used AI to record doctor-patient discussions. And they didn’t ask permission first. This case addresses an AI privacy issue that affects our community. Think about this: Should AI recording be used to document doctor…
A 65-Foot 1,600 Years Old Mosaic Shows Trojan War Soldiers Carrying Their Swords With Shields On Their Arms
This past Wednesday, Syrian archaeologists revealed an intact Roman-era mosaic, estimated to be 1,600 years old. The mosaic uses beautiful colors and depicts several warriors from the Trojan War. The authorities in Syria have dubbed this archaeological discovery "one of the rarest" finds. [i] The mosaic was unearthed in Rastan in what is known as…
A Human Rights Org. Reveals Secret Chinese Int'l Police Stations – Beijing Recently Rationalizes That They Are Necessary
Chinese police stations in 2026 have evolved. These stations have expanded into the Western Balkans and Pacific Islands in 2026, despite international pressure. Discover how surveillance technology and joint patrols enable transnational repression of dissidents worldwide. Updated June 6, 2026 What Is the Global Scope of China’s Overseas Police Operations? China has been accused of…
2 attorneys now face disbarment due to the massive misappropriation of more than $743,000
The legal industry is founded on the value of maintaining the utmost level of ethics and integrity. However, the recent Girardi Keese law firm scandal has greatly shaken this fundamental principle. The State Bar of California has taken firm action against David Lira and Keith Griffin, two attorneys, for their suspected involvement in misusing settlement funds belonging…
