The U.S. Marine Corps is joining its NATO allies in testing the world’s smallest drone — the PD-100 Black Hornet.
Norway’s Proxdynamics made inroads in the U.S. this year when Marine infantry units tested its pocket-sized reconnaissance system. The PD-100 has already been fielded by 19 fellow NATO members.
“From our perspective, this was developed to give the dismounted squad its own ISR capability. That was the big idea, and still is the big idea,” Proxdynamics General Manager Arne Skjaerpe told Military.com on Tuesday. “Right now we are in a very good dialogue with [Marine Corps Combat Development Command] and the Marine Corps Warfighting Labe to see how they think they want to move forward. And we, needless to say, want to offer then whatever capabilities they need.”
Mr. Skjaerpe told the newspaper that the militarized version of its technology costs between $50,000-$60,000 per system and weighs 18 grams, or about the weight of three sheets of paper.
Although the Marine Corps has not fully committed to using Proxdynamics’ product, officials see miniaturized drones as an ideal means of improving intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR).
The PD-100 Black Hornet was tested twice by units this summer during training exercises at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, California, Military Times reported.
• Douglas Ernst can be reached at dernst@washingtontimes.com.
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