Chinese military researchers have introduced a mosquito-sized microdrone designed for covert surveillance and reconnaissance, state media revealed this weekend.
At roughly 1.3 centimetres in length, the insect-like device can slip past conventional radar and human detection, raising concerns among security experts about its potential misuse.
Developed by a robotics team at the National University of Defense Technology in Hunan province, the miniature bionic robot features two leaf-shaped wings and three hair-thin “legs.”
In a video shared on CCTV 7, student engineer Liang Hexiang demonstrated the drone, holding it between his fingers and explaining that “miniature bionic robots like this one are especially suited to information reconnaissance and special missions on the battlefield.”
Controlled via smartphone, the device carries ultra-miniature cameras and microphones capable of capturing images, sounds, and electronic signals.
While the developers highlight both military and civilian applications—such as locating survivors in disaster zones or monitoring environmental conditions—the drone’s near-invisibility has alarmed analysts.
Georgetown research fellow Sam Bresnick warns that “if China is able to produce mosquito-sized drones, it would likely be interested in using them for various intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance tasks, especially in places that larger drones struggle to access, such as indoor areas.”
Critics note, however, that the tiny power cells limit flight time and operational range. Senior defense researcher Timothy Heath observes that “to spy over a long period of time, someone would need to be willing to constantly cycle out microdrones, recharge them, and redeploy them in addition to sifting through the collected data, all within range of the target.”
Nevertheless, Heath cautioned that criminal elements or foreign intelligence could exploit the technology to steal personal information or conduct industrial espionage.
The mosquito-sized drone marks the latest in China’s push for advanced unmanned systems. Just weeks ago, Beijing released designs for the Jiu Tan SS-UAV “aerial mothership,” an 82-foot-wingspan platform intended to deploy more than 100 drones and over a ton of ordnance at high altitude.
As artificial intelligence, battery performance, and sensor miniaturization continue to improve, analysts say microdrones may soon become a fixture of both military operations and clandestine surveillance worldwide.