Teledyne FLIR Chosen for Advanced Thermal Imaging in SRR Program

Red Cat Holdings, Inc. has partnered with teledyne FLIR to integrate cutting-edge thermal imaging and AI-driven software into its Black Widow™ small unmanned aircraft system (sUAS).

Recognition in the U.S.Army’s SRR Program

Following a complete evaluation by the Army Project Management Office for Uncrewed Aircraft Systems, along with the Army Maneuver Battle Lab, Army Test and Evaluation Command, and Army Operational Test Center, Red Cat emerged as the recipient of the U.S. Army’s short Range Reconnaissance (SRR) Program of Record.

Innovative technology Integration

Incorporating Teledyne FLIR’s NDAA-compliant Hadron™ 640R+ longwave infrared camera and high-resolution visible camera module, along with the Prism™ AI perception software, the Black Widow is engineered for high-performance operations in Electronic Warfare (EW) scenarios. This portable sUAS is designed to be easily carried in a rucksack.

Modular Design for Versatile Missions

the Black Widow features a fully modular architecture, allowing for rapid adjustments to meet various mission needs, including SSR and secondary payload operations. The U.S. Army aims to acquire 5,880 systems, each comprising two aircraft.

Advanced Imaging Capabilities

The Hadron 640R+ is an ITAR-free thermal camera that boasts a resolution of 640×512 pixels, offering extraordinary thermal sensitivity, alongside a 64-MP visible camera, all within a compact size, weight, and power (SWaP) optimized design.

Enhanced Object Detection with AI

When paired with the Prism AI software, this technology facilitates precise object detection across specific categories, enables tracking of multiple objects, and provides motion target indication, among other capabilities.

Acknowledgment of Innovation

Teledyne FLIR’s Prism digital ecosystem was recently honored as a Platinum Honoree by Military+aerospace Electronics magazine, recognizing its outstanding innovation in the defense and aerospace sectors.

Statements from Leadership

George Matus, CTO of red Cat, remarked, “The hadron 640R+, with its superior thermal imaging capabilities, will substantially enhance the Black Widow’s ability to help warfighters Dominate the Night™.”

“We are excited to strengthen our long-standing partnership with the leader in thermal imaging technology, which will expedite our deployment to the U.S.Department of Defense and its allies worldwide.”

Paul Clayton, Vice President at Teledyne FLIR, stated, “We are honored to be chosen by Red Cat to enhance the Black Widow with unmatched tactical capabilities for the U.S. Army’s SRR Program.”

“This collaboration equips the Black Widow with advanced dual thermal-visible imaging and AI software libraries that facilitate classification, object detection, and tracking, ensuring mission success at any time of day.”