China's NUDT develops mosquito-sized drone: Intended for covert military operations and reconnaissance missions

Every intelligence agency's dream looks like a large mosquito, has two tiny feather-like wings, a narrow body, and stands on three legs.

However, it's not a mosquito, it's a mini-drone developed by China's National University of Defense Technology (NUDT).

It is intended for covert military operations and reconnaissance missions, writes the Hong Kong newspaper South China Morning Post. The reconnaissance aircraft was featured in a report on the military channel CCTV7 of Chinese state television.

The barely noticeable drone was presented by NUDT researcher Liang Hexiang, who also works on humanoid robots.

"Here in my hand is a mosquito-like robot. Miniature bionic robots like this are particularly suitable for intelligence reconnaissance missions and special operations on the battlefield," Heshiang said.

Also on display was a prototype of another mini drone with four wings that can be controlled via a smartphone.

The race to develop the smallest drones

It is surprising not only the progress that the Chinese military has made in the field of robotics, but also the fact that a mosquito-sized spy drone is being publicly displayed.

For years, military engineers around the world have been competing to produce drones that are as small and powerful as possible. Components such as microphones and cameras, control systems, power supplies and other parts must be installed in as little space as possible. At the same time, the drone must be quiet, durable, and have a long range.

The development of tiny drones requires knowledge of robotics, materials science, and sensor technology – expertise that is primarily available in military institutions.

Striking similarities with the American model

It's not just the Chinese military that has been massively promoting the development of mini drones. Their names often refer to bees, hornets, or mosquitoes, as nature often serves as inspiration for these bionic mini-robots.

The mini drone unveiled by China's NUDT bears a striking resemblance to the "RoboBee" drone, which Harvard researchers first unveiled to the public in 2013.

However, the roughly three-centimeter-long drone was developed for the agricultural sector and environmental monitoring – and the Chinese version is significantly smaller.

Some autonomous RoboBee drone models can swim underwater and take off from there. Or "use static electricity to stick to surfaces," according to the Harvard Wyss Institute website.

Nano drones for combat use

These small reconnaissance drones are not, however, robust enough for combat missions. Drones in such operations must withstand wind and severe weather conditions, images and data must be precise, battery life must be long, and the control system must be such that soldiers can use them from a safe, remote position.

That's why military personnel are more enthusiastic about the roughly palm-sized "Black Hornet" drone, which was developed in Norway and has been used for several years for secure reconnaissance during combat missions.

The German Bundeswehr has also acquired this drone, which resembles a tiny helicopter, for "silent optical reconnaissance in tactically close environments."

According to the Bundeswehr, such drones "enable soldiers to conduct immediate, covert reconnaissance even without special training."

The "Black Hornet" features infrared technology, "is very light and practically silent. With a flight time of up to 25 minutes, the pocket nano drone can deliver live video and high-resolution photos," and thus, for example, detect booby traps.

The US military is also working on versions of mini drones, the US Air Force announced back in 2021. However, the US military is not yet providing details on how far development has progressed and which models are already in service.