Chinese military chiefs develop killer bird-drone powered by flapping wings
CHINESE military chiefs have developed a killer bird drone powered by flapping wings, The Sun on Sunday can reveal.
The new weapon - known as an 'ornithopter' - has been built to resemble Eurasian tree sparrow and was revealed during a recent demonstration by Chinese special forces.
Advertisement
The drone replicates the wing-flapping motion of a sparrow in flight, making it virtually indistinguishable from real birds at a distance, according to the latest edition of Soldier Magazine.
A video of the occasion shows an officer with the Peoples' Liberation Army Sea Commandos releasing the sparrow-like drone as he resurfaced from the water.
The drone then circled in the sky for a few minutes while flapping its wings like a real bird.
Another clip shows a commando operating a larger drone, which is similar in size to a raven or hawk.
Advertisement
Details of how the bird-drone is powered and flies remain secret but defence sources believe drones of this size would normally use small advanced sensors allowing the operator to spy on enemy troops.
Defence sources have also claimed that this new generation of drones can also be armed with micro-warheads to strike enemy assets, especially those in cover.
The drones could also be used to assassinate enemy VIPs such as senior military commanders.
But small drones often have a limited range and endurance, making them suitable only for short-range reconnaissance.
Advertisement
Colonel Phil Ingram, a former Army intelligence officer told The Sun on Sunday: 'These drones could revolutionise reconnaissance operations on the battlefield.
'It's just a matter of time before we see these being used in war zones such as Ukraine and there is quite a strong likelihood that they could already be part of Russia's drone armoury.
Incredible moment wounded Ukrainian soldier is delivered e-bike by drone so he can escape while surrounded by Russians
'They will be used to conduct short term spying missions and if they can be fitted with a small warhead or weapon they could be used to take out individual battlefield commanders.'
In 2021, the South China Morning Post uploaded a video of what it called a 'robo-fish' wagging its tail underwater.
Advertisement
The device was not a real fish, but a drone with the potential for underwater surveillance.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
ITV News
22 minutes ago
- ITV News
British dad with no military experience 'killed in Ukraine by Russian drone'
A British dad who volunteered to fight for Ukraine despite having no military experience has been killed by a Russian drone in his first mission, his wife has said. Alan Robert Williams, 35, who has a 12-year-old daughter, has officially been declared as Missing In Action because his body has yet to be wife, Stephanie, 40, who pleaded with Alan not to go, was told by her husband's unit that he had been killed in the Kharkiv region on 14 July while trying to retrieve some foreign officers. Stephanie was told that four Russian drones dropped a mortar eight metres from the team, killing Alan instantly. 'He only signed his contract with the unit on the 10 June", Stephanie said. "He had only been there a month. He had no frontline military experience at all. 'Even though I can't dispute the accounts I've been given from numerous people I have spoken to out there, it still doesn't feel real. "I've been sending him messages on his phone giving him updates as to what has been going on." After being discharged from hospital for struggling with his mental health, the dad, from Wirral, volunteered to fight for Ukraine, despite his loved ones pleading with him not to. Stephanie believes he initially applied "because of his mental health" but, since he has been away, he told his friends he "couldn't sit by and watch what was happening to the civilians, especially the children".She said: 'When it came to children he had a massive heart. It gave him purpose. That is what a few of the lads out there said, he finally felt that he wasn't failing people."Alan went to Ukraine on 7 May where he underwent training and he seemed in much better form in the first few conversations with Stephanie, who 'feared the worst' from day while his mental health improved, Stephanie's declined, and she said it was like they had switched. The last time Stephanie spoke to Alan was on 2 July when his tone suddenly changed, after he told her he was embarking on his first mission.'I could tell by the way he was talking to me it was a dangerous mission,' she said. Stephanie was contacted by Ukrainian sergeant a few weeks later, who told her that "all the evidence showed he was killed in action."Then, on 30 July, a man who was with Alan from the moment he arrived in Ukraine to the mission itself, called said in no uncertain terms that he had passed away on the battlefield and they did everything they could to bring him back, but being under ambush, it was too said it will not sink in until he is officially declared Killed In Action. But for this to happen, his body needs to be retrieved, or in six months time she can apply to the Ukrainian courts to have him declared dead. Stephanie, a civil servant and call handler, said: 'We have lost Alan's wage completely which was half of our bills. I can't claim anything with regards to being a widow until he is officially declared.'I am not entitled to anything. I earn too much to claim any single person benefit and I have two adult children who count towards people in my house so I can't claim anything at all.'At the moment I have a tiny buffer but once that finishes I will not be able to afford bills or rent or anything like that.'Stephanie's mum, Lynne, from Upton, has since launched a GoFundMe to help her daughter pay for rent and bills "during this difficult time."A spokesperson for the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office told us: 'We are supporting the family of a British man who is missing in Ukraine and are in contact with the local authorities.'
Daily Mirror
an hour ago
- Daily Mirror
Gregg Wallace gives a very direct response to fan asking if he has trousers on
Former MasterChef presenter Gregg Wallace has hit back at social media users questioning the findings of a report that saw him forced to leave the BBC cooking show Former MasterChef host Gregg Wallace has hit back at an Instagram user seemingly referring to his alleged conduct during his time working at the BBC. In November 2024 it was announced that Wallace would step away from his role on the BBC cooking show while historical allegations of misconduct were investigated. Wallace issued an apology saying he was "deeply sorry for any distress caused" and that he "never set out to harm or humiliate" in the wake of the Lewis Silkin review, which upheld 45 out of 83 allegations made against him. One of the allegations came from a complaint from a former MasterChef worker who accused Wallace of dropping his trousers in front of her - something Wallace denies. In a fresh comment on social media today, Wallace claimed the allegation was one of the 38 dismissed by the independent inquiry. Posting on Instagram, Wallace shared a video of himself and wife Anna celebrating their ninth wedding anniversary. But the comment section was more focused on discussing Wallace's recent scandal. One Instagram user wrote to Wallace: "I'm surprised she stayed with you after the things you were accused of though." Wallace replied: "Maybe because she realised I was just accused and they weren't true." Another comment aimed as Wallace reads: "Are your trousers up or for a friend." In response, Wallace wrote: "no allegations of that type were upheld. What made you think they were, please?" Last month, Wallace again apologised to anyone hurt by his behaviour, but insisted he is "not a groper, a sex pest or a flasher". In fresh comments to The Sun, Wallace acknowledged that he had said things that "offended people, that weren't socially acceptable and perhaps they felt too intimidated or nervous to say anything at the time. I understand that now – and to anyone I have hurt, I am so sorry." He added: "I'm not a groper. People think I've been taking my trousers down and exposing myself – I am not a flasher. People think I'm a sex pest. I am not.' The former greengrocer also said his recent autism diagnosis means he struggles "to read people". "I know people find me weird," he said. "Autism is a disability, a registered disability." Earlier this week, Wallace and John Torode's final series of amateur MasterChef landed on BBC iPlayer after both presenters were dropped from the popular cooking show. The first three episodes of the 21st series were released on iPlayer early on Wednesday morning, ahead of the first episode airing on BBC One at 8pm. Both presenters can be seen in the introduction shots of episode one, with Torode saying: "This is the sort of stuff that dreams are made of", while Wallace can be seen telling a contestant 'that is a cracker of a job'. Torode was the subject of an allegation about using racist language that was upheld as part of the Lewis Silkin review, but the TV star said he had "no recollection of the incident" and was "shocked and saddened" by the allegation. Last month the BBC confirmed the series, which was filmed last year before allegations against Wallace and Torode were upheld, would be broadcast in August, adding that it had "not been an easy decision in the circumstances."
The Sun
6 hours ago
- The Sun
Brit, 16, arrested over attempted rape of UK holidaymaker, 22, at hotel in Tenerife after ‘sneaking into her room'
A TEENAGE Brit tourist has been arrested after being accused of trying to rape another UK holidaymaker at her hotel in Tenerife. The 16-year-old, who was on holiday with his family, is alleged to have snuck into the 22-year-old woman's room in the Playa de Las Americas resort. 1 He was arrested at the swimming pool of his hotel, next to the one where he is said to have forced himself onto the other Brit. is your go-to destination for the best celebrity news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see video. Like us on Facebook at and follow us from our main Twitter account at @TheSun.
