WILSONVILLE, Ore. - Executives of electro-optical sensors expert FLIR Systems Inc. in Wilsonville, Ore., are boosting the company's expertise in small unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) sensor platforms with the acquisition of Prox Dynamics AS in Hvalstad, Norway.
FLIR officials announced that the company has acquired Prox Dynamics for $134 million in cash. Prox Dynamics is a developer and manufacturer of nano-class UAVs for military and paramilitary intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) applications. Prox Dynamics develops, manufactures, and distributes aerial sensors that are small, light, and covert surveillance systems, FLIR officials say.
U.S. Army researchers are supervising development of the Prox Dynamics Black Hornet Personal Reconnaissance System (PRS), designed to provide infantry soldiers with immediate ISR capability.
The Black Hornet PRS combines a hand controller and a one-pound, force-protection micro UAV, the Prox Dynamics PD-100 unmanned helicopter, for soldiers and small infantry units. The Black Hornet aerial sensor is pocket-sized and hand-launched by a soldier in the field for situational awareness and mission planning.
The Black Hornet aerial sensor uses FLIR's Lepton micro thermal camera, visible spectrum cameras, advanced low-power rotor technology, and proprietary software for flight control, stabilization, and communications.
The Black Hornet helicopter is one of the lightest, stealthiest, and safest drones in the market, offering surveillance solutions for traditional military and special operations forces. It weighs less than one ounce and can fly for as long as 25 minutes at line-of-sight distances to one mile.
The addition of the Prox Dynamics business will augment FLIR's Surveillance segment by extending FLIR's airborne sensor product line and leveraging Lepton technology, FLIR officials say. Prox Dynamics will become FLIR's Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) line of business operating within the company's Surveillance segment.
FOR MORE INFORMATION visit FLIR Systems online at www.flir.com or Prox Dynamics at www.proxdynamics.com.
