An Cosantóir November 2014 www.dfmagazine.ie
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BY MAJOR (RETD) WALTER CHRISTIAN HåLAND
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surveillance micro-drone, easily started from the palm of the hand, that can fly over a suspect area, or hover
beside a building and look into a window, gives soldiers on foot patrol the advantage of seeing potential
threats ahead from a safe distance.
When US troops in Iraq and Afghanistan needed to see whether danger lurked over the next hill or on the next
city block, they often relied on small, hand-launched, fixed-wing, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), such as the
army's 'Raven' and the Marine Corps' 'Dragon Eye'.
Perhaps no technology is more important today for soldiers on a foot patrol than these micro-drones equipped
with cameras that can be used to get a bird's-eye view over distant objects.
The PD-100 Black Hornet personal reconnaissance system (PRS) provides the modern-day warrior with such a piece
of equipment for instant use on the battlefield.
The ISTAR capability this pocket-sized system provides, allows immediate situational awareness for soldiers on
dismounted operations. It provides real-time video to the operator and gives the opportunity to take snapshots dur-
ing missions. Combat-proven in Afghanistan with NATO forces, and with a range exceeding 1.2 km, the PD-100
enhances the operational capability
available to military units.
