Red Cat Black Widow™ SSR 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

*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

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.

Grip S-20 (Galaxy S20 Tactical Edition)

Grip S-20 turns the Samsung Galaxy S20 Tactical Edition into a rugged ATAK UAS controller with metal-clad protection and mission-proven ergonomics. Its integrated USB-C hub simplifies Nett Warrior loadouts by handling data and power without specialty cables, and the hinged MOLLE chest mount supports hands-free operation for light infantry, air assault, and special operations. Proudly designed and built in the USA, the controller is NDAA/TAA compliant and tested to MIL-STD-810G for temperature, shock, and vibration—giving public safety, utilities, security teams, and defense operators a compact, durable GCS that integrates cleanly with ATAK and third-party solutions.

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.

Teal Black Widow System Specifications

Aircraft

Remote ID

GPS Module

Sensor

Processor

WEB™ Warfighter Electronic Bridge Controller

Tomahawk Robotics GRIP S-20 Controller

* Flight time measured at standard atmospheric pressure; actual performance varies with payload, environment, and mission profile.

(1) Black Widow Air Vehicle
(1) Dual-Axis Gimbal & FLIR Hadron 640R+ Sensor Assembly
(1) Ground Control Station (GCS)
(1) Field Repair Kit
(1) Dual Charger
(4) Batteries
(1) Tactical Case
(1) Transport Case
(1) Operator’s Manual

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

• 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

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.