China unveiled a mosquito-sized drone designed for secret military operations and espionage, a development that is already raising eyebrows over the potential consequence of the tech falling into the wrong hands.
Developed by China’s National University of Defense Technology (NUDT), the insect-sized drone was recently featured on CCTV 7, the country’s official military channel.
At first glance, the drone looks like a harmless insect, with a black stick-like body, delicate yellow wings shaped like leaves, and three wiry legs.
However, behind its small frame lies highly sophisticated military engineering designed for intelligence gathering and covert battlefield operations
Its tiny size and insect-like flapping wings make it nearly invisible, ideal for stealth missions in cities or complex environments.
It also features three thin legs for perching, plus miniaturized power systems, sensors, and control circuits packed into a lightweight frame.
Though hard to build due to its size, the drone could play a key role in urban combat, espionage, or search and rescue missions by operating undetected.
For more than a decade, scientists at Harvard University have been developing a miniature drone, modelled after bees, called the RoboBee.
Similar to the new Chinese drone, the RoboBee is barely the size of a penny, with two flat wings and four razor thin legs. Certain models are able to both swim underwater and fly.
Its applications are similarly wide-reaching, including search and rescue operations, surveillance and environmental monitoring.
Also on the market are the palm-sized Black Hornet drones, used by armies around the world, including in the UK and the US.
Larger than the insect-sized drones and resembling a mini helicopter, Black Hornets are able to overcome some of the operational challenges posed by the microdrones while still remaining discrete.
Ukraine’s Special Operations Forces have used Black Hornets for reconnaissance in Kursk since Russia’s invasion in 2022.