Red Cat Black Widow™ SRR Drone System

Black Widow™ is a U.S.-manufactured short-range reconnaissance (SRR) system built by Teal Drones (part of Red Cat Holdings). As a dual-use platform within Red Cat’s ARACHNID™ family, it delivers a mission-critical ISR with a modular, field-repairable airframe and radiometric thermal imaging for real-world operations. Designed and built for defense and security but equally practical for public safety, utilities and critical infrastructure, private/commercial security, Black Widow pairs the Teledyne FLIR Hadron 640R+ EO/IR payload with endurance up to 45+ minutes, link range up to 5 miles (8 km), and civilian GNSS positioning.  Teal Drones was selected for the U.S. Army Short Range Reconnaissance Program of Record, underscoring a focus on open, modular, and interoperable solutions. Black Widow At a Glance Doodle Hex-Band Radio with frequency-stepping for EW Resilience Integrated FLIR Prism AI software stack Optional Reveal Farsight 3D Mapping Software Target identification, tracking and classification software Forward-looking obstacle avoidance Modular Arms and Primary / Secondary Payloads Visual-odometry with Visual Navigation capability in the near-future High-processing power with Qualcomm RB5 Chip for A. I. Capabilities Stealth Mode (including Mission Execution with Radios Off) Quiet Acoustic Signature Optional Aided Target Recognition Software by Sightline Intelligence (Athena AI) Rucksack-Portable and Field-Repairable Country of Origin USA Endurance Up to 45+ minutes* Link Range Up to 5 mi (8 km) Takeoff Weight 4.26 lb (1.93 kg) Payload Teledyne FLIR Hadron 640R+ (EO 64 MP + Boson+ 640 radiometric IR) GNSS Civilian GNSS Remote ID Optional Design Modular, field-repairable, rucksack-portable; quiet acoustic signature *Standard atmospheric pressure. EO/IR Imaging The integrated Teledyne FLIR Hadron 640R+ pairs a 64 MP visible sensor with a radiometric Boson+ 640 thermal core, delivering actionable daylight and infrared detail in a compact, stabilized package. Mechanical stabilization and EIS help preserve clarity at speed and in gusty conditions, enabling confident decisions in low-visibility, night, and high-tempo scenarios. Hadron 640R+ by Teledyne FLIR EO Sensor 64 MP, 67° HFOV; video up to 4K/30 fps IR Sensor Boson+ 640 (radiometric), 32° HFOV Stabilization Mechanical stabilization + Electronic Image Stabilization (EIS) Output High-resolution daylight imagery + calibrated thermal data for precise temperature analysis Imaging Enhancements Integrated FLIR Prism™ AI for on-sensor analytics Optional Reveal Farsight 3D mapping for rapid scene understanding Software support for target identification, tracking, and classification Black Widow Day Image Black Widow Night Image Use Cases: hot-spot checks on substations and transmission lines, perimeter sweeps and intrusion detection, wildfire overwatch and flare identification, SAR evidence search and subject location, and nighttime inspection of critical infrastructure. Mission Command & Control (C2) WEB™ Warfighter Electronic Bridge WEB™ is an Android-based, ATAK-integrated ground control solution designed for low cognitive load and multi-domain operations. Co-developed with Booz Allen Hamilton, it provides an “industry-first” UAS Tool interface for seamless mission planning, sensor control, and team coordination. Operators get a high-brightness display, quick-attach/detach antennas, and a secure 1080p downlink with AES-256 encryption, plus Nett Warrior connectivity, HDMI video out, and programmable joysticks/switches. Channel/band hopping across M1–M6 (1625–2510 MHz) with sub-250 ms latency helps maintain link robustness in contested RF environments, while shared battery logistics (same battery as the aircraft) and power-out via USB-C keep the kit field-ready. ARACHNID™ Family of Small ISR & Precision Effects Systems ARACHNID™ is Red Cat’s family of portable, interoperable systems designed to transform defense and security operations. The ecosystem focuses on a sensor-to-shooter (S2S) workflow, linking target identification to optional precision effects, while emphasizing low-cost, recoverable, and rapidly deployable platforms. Its objective aligns with the Pentagon’s Replicator Initiative: scalable swarms of “attritable” ISR and surgical-strike assets for air, land, sea, and sub-sea environments. Each platform shares a common control approach (ATAK-first), modular hardware, and open integration paths. Teams can mix and match aircraft and controllers to fit mission profiles without retraining or retooling an entire stack. Black Widow™ — Short Range Reconnaissance A small, tactical quadrotor built for front-line ISR, Black Widow is rucksack-portable, field-repairable, and optimized for close-in reconnaissance. It integrates the Teledyne FLIR Hadron 640R+ day/night sensor and delivers 45+ minutes of endurance with resilient comms—making it the workhorse ISR node in the ARACHNID™ family. Trichon™ — Extended SRR (Under Development) Trichon is a military-grade hybrid-VTOL tri-copter that extends range and endurance for ISR and mapping. It transitions seamlessly between hover and forward flight and supports tool-free payload swaps, enabling operations in tougher environments and longer standoff surveillance. FANG™ — FPV Precision Effects (Under Development) FANG adds FPV-based precision effects to the ecosystem. Under development and undergoing Blue UAS certification, it enables low-cost, portable, and recoverable kill-chain options when paired with ISR nodes. Operators can select capabilities per mission and manage them through a common ATAK interface to reduce cognitive load. WEB™ — Warfighter Electronic Bridge WEB™ is the universal ground control solution for ARACHNID™. Developed with Booz Allen Hamilton, it implements an industry-first ATAK UAS Tool to streamline mission planning, execution, and debrief. With Nett Warrior backhaul, a high-brightness display, and standardized inputs/outputs, WEB™ unifies control across multi-domain platforms and simplifies team training and sustainment. Industries & Use Cases Black Widow™ is built for teams that rely on thermal ISR across day and night operations. From public safety and utilities to defense, private security, and enterprise inspection, it delivers radiometric IR, reliable daylight imaging, and resilient comms in a compact, field-repairable platform. Public Safety Search & rescue (SAR), evidence search, wildfire overwatch and hot-spot checks, disaster assessment, night operations Utilities & Critical Infrastructure Substation thermography, transmission/distribution patrols, thermal anomaly detection, perimeter and right-of-way inspections Defense & Military Short-range reconnaissance, ISR overwatch, route/area surveillance, target identification and tracking in contested environments Private & Commercial Security Perimeter patrols, intrusion detection, large-site/event monitoring, after-hours thermal sweeps Enterprise & Industrial Facility inspections, plant utilities checks, HSE documentation, thermal audits for preventative maintenance Specs Teal Black Widow System Specifications Aircraft Weight 4.26 lbs (1.93 kg) Flight Time 45+ minutes* Top Speed 13 m/s (29 mph) Link Range 5 miles (8 km) Remote ID Status Optional — C Code RID variant available; non-RID configurations supported where permitted GPS Module Options Civilian GNSS; M/Y-Code; Dual Band L1/L2 (configuration-dependent) Sensor System EO/IR Teledyne FLIR Hadron 640R+ with Mechanical Stabilization & EIS EO Sensor 64 MP, 67° HFOV; video up to 4K @ 30 fps IR Sensor Boson+ 640 (radiometric), 32° HFOV Processor Chipset Qualcomm RB5 CPU 8× Kryo 585 cores GPU Adreno 650 WEB™ Warfighter Electronic Bridge Controller Aircraft Compatibility Black Widow™ by Teal Drones Edge 130 Blue by Flightwave Trichon™ by Flightwave (In Development) Fang™ by Red Cat (In Development) Multi-domain Operations Stand-alone GCS for non-Red Cat platforms ATAK Compatible Key Features High-brightness display; quick attach/detach antennas; Nett Warrior radio backhaul; programmable joysticks & switches; USB-C power out; HDMI video out; electro-mechanical interface for future accessories Weight 3 lbs Video Downlink 1080p Encryption AES-256 Frequency Bands M1–M6 (1625 MHz to 2510 MHz); channel & band hopping Latency <250 ms Software OS Android Battery Life Up to 10 hours (same battery as aircraft) Tomahawk Robotics GRIP S-20 Controller Aircraft Compatibility Black Widow™ by Teal Drones (w/ ATAK) Teal 2 by Teal Drones (w/ ATAK) Edge 130 Blue by Flightwave (w/ ATAK) Trichon™ by Flightwave (In Development) (w/ ATAK) Fang™ by Red Cat (In Development) (w/ ATAK) Multi-domain Operations; 3rd-party solutions with integration Key Features Rugged, metal-clad case for Galaxy S20 Tactical Edition; integrated USB-C hub for data & power without EUD removal; streamlined for light infantry/air assault/special ops; designed & built in the USA; NDAA/TAA compliant; hinged MOLLE chest mount Weight 1.20 lbs Dimensions 7.93 in × 4.34 in × 1.22 in Mounting MOLLE chest mount accessory Operating Temperature −20 °C to 50 °C (per MIL-STD-810G) Shock / Vibration MIL-STD-810G, Method 516.6, Proc. IV (Shock); Method 514.6, Proc. I (Vibration) Compliance CE, RoHS * Flight time measured at standard atmospheric pressure; actual performance varies with payload, environment, and mission profile. In the Box (1) Black Widow Air Vehicle-C Code RID (1) Dual-Axis Gimbal &FLIR Hadron 640R+ Sensor Assembly (1) WEB™ GCS (1) Dual Charger (2) Batteries (1) Field Repair Kit (1) Tactical Case (1) Transport Case (1) Operator’s Manual Videos Black Widow Overview Black Widow | Short Range Reconnaissance — Evasion Mission Mission — Route Recon Mission — Target Threat Identification Mission — Multi-Vehicle Control Mission — Identifying Safe Landing Zones Compliance NDAA: Not listed Remote ID: Optional (RID and non-RID variants available) DIU Blue UAS: Not listed Link Security: AES-256 encryption; Doodle Hex-Band radio with frequency-stepping for EW resilience FAQ What is Black Widow™ and where is it built? Black Widow is a short-range reconnaissance (SRR) sUAS from Teal Drones, designed and manufactured in the U.S.. It’s part of Red Cat’s ARACHNID™ family of ISR and precision-effects systems.  Is Black Widow dual-use? Yes. While purpose-built for defense and security missions, the platform is equally suited for public safety, utilities/critical infrastructure inspection, and private/commercial security operations. Which EO/IR payload does it use? Black Widow integrates Teledyne FLIR’s Hadron 640R+ module, pairing a 640×512 radiometric thermal camera (Boson+) with a high-resolution visible camera for day/night ISR. Does it support on-board AI? Yes. The system is designed for AI-enabled operations and supports Teledyne FLIR’s Prism™ AI software stack for on-edge detection, classification, and tracking. What are flight time and range? Up to 45+ minutes of endurance and up to 5 miles (8 km) link range (see Specs above for details provided by the manufacturer). Is Remote ID built in? Remote ID is available; Black Widow is offered in RID and non-RID variants depending  Which GNSS options are available? For commercial/enterprise use, Black Widow is configured with civilian GNSS. (Defense-oriented configurations may support additional options; contact us to discuss requirements.) Can it operate with reduced or no RF emissions? Yes. The platform supports a “stealth” mode for mission execution with radios off, and reporting on the SRR program notes the ability to operate without radio emissions and in GPS-denied settings. What ground control solutions are supported? Two primary options are available: Red Cat’s WEB™ (Warfighter Electronic Bridge) universal GCS with ATAK integration/Nett Warrior interface, and the GRIP S-20 controller for Galaxy S20 Tactical Edition loadouts (ATAK-enabled).  What link security and bands are supported? WEB provides AES-256-encrypted 1080p downlink; Doodle Labs’ Hex-Band solutions cover M1–M6 (1625–2510 MHz) with channel/band hopping and AES encryption for resilient C2. (Band availability subject to authorization.) How does Black Widow fit within Red Cat’s ARACHNID™ family? ARACHNID encompasses low-cost, portable ISR and precision-effects systems intended to meet “attritable” requirements including the DoD Replicator initiative—Black Widow fills the SRR role within that family.  Who should consider Black Widow? Agencies and teams requiring compact, thermally capable ISR: law enforcement, fire/SAR/disaster response, utilities and critical-infrastructure inspectors, defense/security units, and private/commercial security operations.