The Chinese military has created a mosquito-shaped surveillance drone designed for spying and other secret military missions.
Measuring about 2 centimeters in length and weighing just 0.3 grams, the device was first unveiled on CCTV-7, the country’s official military television channel.
The bionic microdrone, created by a robotics lab at the National University of Defence Technology (NUDT) in central China’s Hunan province, is designed to mimic a mosquito in both appearance and motion.
It features two tiny flapping wings, three spindly legs, and a stick-thin body packed with sensors meant for stealth and precision.
“Here in my hand is a mosquito-like type of robot,” said Liang Hexiang, an NUDT student, during the June 20 broadcast.
“Miniature bionic robots like this one are especially suited to information reconnaissance and special missions on the battlefield.”
The insect-like robot is so small that military analysts say it would likely evade detection by conventional radar systems.
Its main functions include thermal imaging, allowing it to carry out quick, stealthy reconnaissance missions under cover of darkness or inside unfriendly environments.
According to the South China Morning Post, the development team is also working on a prototype featuring four wings, which can be remote controlled via smartphone.
This will expand the drone’s potential for more agile, adaptive missions in difficult terrain.
While countries around the world continue to invest in drone technology, China’s venture into this microdrone innovation sets a new standard for military spy technology.
However, the development of such microdrones raises new ethical concerns about surveillance and privacy.
Observers are worried that such technology would be dangerous in the hand of criminals who may use them to steal passwords, illegally monitor people and perform complex operations.
