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Euronews
27-06-2025
- Science
- Euronews
China unveils tiny spy drone that looks like a mosquito
A Chinese defence research institution has revealed a spy drone that closely resembles a mosquito. The bionic microdrone was showcased on China's state-run military broadcaster, CCTV-7, on June 20. 'Here in my hand is a mosquito-like type of robot,' Liang Hexiang, a student at the National University of Defence Technology (NUDT), told the broadcaster. 'Miniature bionic robots like this one are especially suited to information reconnaissance and special missions on the battlefield,' he added. About 2 cm long and weighing just 0.3 grams, the insect-inspired device features two tiny wings and three spindly legs. The wings can flap at 500 times per second, according to a Korean newspaper, Chosun Ilbo. The stick-thin body is packed with sensors intended for covert surveillance and other military operations. The team also introduced a prototype with four wings controllable by a smartphone, according to the South China Morning Post. While the report did not reveal exactly what sort of data it can collect, experts say, its minuscule size would make it difficult to detect using conventional radar systems. Microdrones on trend Microdrones like these are becoming increasingly common in modern warfare. Several countries are actively exploring or already deploying similar technologies in the field. For example, Norway's palm-sized helicopter-style micro-UAV, dubbed Black Hornet, is already in use by multiple armed forces, including the US military. The pocket-sized drone uses cameras and thermal imaging for quick, stealthy reconnaissance. In 2006, the US Department of Defence's secretive DARPA lab launched a project named Hybrid Insect Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (HI-MEMS) to create 'insect cyborgs' by placing micro-mechanical systems inside the insects.
Time of India
26-06-2025
- Science
- Time of India
China shows a 0.6 cm spy drone that is smaller than your fingertip but can paralyse a large army: Watch video
China has revealed a mosquito-like flying robot designed for stealth missions, triggering global concern about its potential use in surveillance, cybercrime, and even biowarfare. 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. Tiny, silent, and built for spying 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. In a demonstration on state TV, NUDT student Liang Hexiang held up the robot and said, 'Here in my hand is a mosquito-like type of robot. Miniature bionic robots like this one are especially suited to information reconnaissance and special missions on the battlefield.' by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Bargain Prices on Unsold Container Houses in Cebu - Check Them Out! Shipping Container Homes | Search Ads Search Now Undo — jeanlol67573289 (@jeanlol67573289) Built to fly under the radar The device is designed for stealth. It is small enough to blend into natural environments and hard to detect by traditional security systems. Chinese scientists have packed communication gear, sensors, power units, and control electronics into its insect-sized body. The drone's four-winged version can be controlled by a smartphone and is part of NUDT's wider work in bio-inspired robotics, including human-like machines and insect-scale flyers. Live Events Experts warn of hacking, spying, and biowarfare risks Security researchers have raised red flags. Timothy Heath, a defence expert, said such drones could be used by criminals to steal passwords or sensitive data. Tracey Follows, a futurist who previously worked with Google, warned that future versions could 'carry deadly viruses or other harmful materials,' and might operate autonomously — without human control — making them even harder to regulate. Similar to Black Mirror's killer robots? The drone's design has drawn eerie comparisons to the Black Mirror episode Hated in the Nation, where robotic bees are weaponised to assassinate people. Social media users say the technology may look like a toy, but could turn into one of the most dangerous surveillance tools ever created. China's expanding drone arsenal The mosquito drone is not the only innovation on display. Chinese engineers have also developed artillery-launched UAVs that can survive the extreme pressure of being fired from 155mm cannon shells — withstanding forces up to 3,000 times their body weight. Global race in microdrones China is not alone. Norway's Black Hornet — a palm-sized helicopter-style micro-UAV — is already in use by multiple armed forces. Harvard University's RoboBee can switch from water to air and perch on surfaces. The US Air Force has also confirmed ongoing work on small drones, though it has shared few details. More than just military use While these machines are designed for warzones, experts say their applications could extend to medicine, agriculture, and disaster relief. Researchers are exploring their use in precision surgery, crop monitoring, pollution detection, and entering hazardous sites unreachable by humans. What's next? From spying and hacking to potential biological attacks, the rise of insect-sized drones is no longer science fiction. The line between biology and robotics is quickly blurring — and with it, the rules of modern warfare and surveillance.
Newsweek
25-06-2025
- Science
- Newsweek
China Military Unveils Mosquito-Sized Drones for 'Special Missions'
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A military university in China's Hunan province has unveiled a mosquito-sized drone designed to carry out surveillance while evading detection. "This type of micro-robot is especially suitable for special missions, such as information reconnaissance, on the battlefield," said Liang Hexiang, a student at the National University of Defence Technology, told China Central Television in a June 14 report. Newsweek reached out to the Chinese Foreign Ministry by email with a request for comment. Why It Matters Technological advances have enabled sensors, batteries, and other components to be packed into ever smaller frames, enabling development of smaller, lighter, and increasingly sophisticated drones. Miniaturization opens up a host of possibilities, from a low-cost alternative to missiles to search and rescue operations. At the same time, it also raises concerns over personal privacy and criminal exploitation. What To Know The new device, developed at China's National University of Defence Technology, is just 2 centimeters long (under an inch), 3 cm wide (just over an inch), and weighs less than 0.2 grams. It appeared almost weightless between the researcher's fingers in the CCTV broadcast. A student at National University of Defense Technology in Hunan province, China, hold a mosquito-sized drone in a report aired by China Central Television on June 14, 2025. A student at National University of Defense Technology in Hunan province, China, hold a mosquito-sized drone in a report aired by China Central Television on June 14, 2025. CCTV While the design pushes the limits of miniaturization, similar micro-robotics research has been ongoing elsewhere. Another insectoid robot, Harvard Microrobotics Laboratory's RoboBee, achieves flight by beating its wings 120 times a second with artificial muscles. The goal is for swarms of these tiny robots to one day assist with tasks like rescue missions or artificial pollination. On the military side, slightly larger micro-drones like the Black Hornet—originally developed in Norway and produced by Teledyne FLIR Defense—have boosted situation awareness among dozens of armed forces. The newest Black Hornet 4 can transmit thermal images, cover distances up to 2 miles, and remain airborne for more than 30 minutes, according to the company. Despite their promise, analysts say ultra-tiny drones like the "mosquito" are limited in their potential on the battlefield. What People Are Saying Bryce Barros, a security fellow at the Washington, D.C.-based Truman National Security Project, told Newsweek: "The impact of this mosquito-sized drone on wartime surveillance will likely be minimal due to its limited capacity, short range, and presumable short battery life," Timothy Heath, senior international defense researcher at the Rand Corporation, told The Telegraph: "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. What's Next Perhaps most consequential, Barros said, is how UAVs like the National University of Defence Technology's new model could be integrated into China's dual-use drone strategy, particularly when it comes to artificial intelligence and asymmetric warfare, where such technologies can offer an edge against larger conventional forces.
Business Wire
23-06-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
Teledyne FLIR's Black Hornet 4 Nano-Drone Approved for Defense Innovation Unit's Blue UAS List
BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Teledyne FLIR Defense, part of Teledyne Technologies Incorporated (NYSE:TDY), announced that its Black Hornet® 4 Personal Reconnaissance System has successfully completed the required NDAA and cyber security verification process and been approved for the Blue UAS List with an Authority to Operate. "We're honored to see Black Hornet 4 added to the Blue UAS List, knowing more operators across our military and government will be able to benefit from this one-of-a-kind drone and its distinct capabilities,' said Dr. JihFen Lei, president of FLIR Defense. Share Led by the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU), Blue UAS vets and verifies commercial drone technology for the Department of Defense and U.S. government. The Blue UAS List gives users access to a wide range of drone systems that can meet their diverse needs. In February Teledyne FLIR announced that Black Hornet 4 was selected by DoD operators from among more than 35 uncrewed aerial system (UAS) products, all rigorously tested during DIU's ' Blue UAS Refresh' event. 'We are honored to see Black Hornet 4 added to the Blue UAS List, knowing that more operators across our military and federal government will be able to benefit from this one-of-a-kind drone and its distinct capabilities,' said Dr. JihFen Lei, president of Teledyne FLIR Defense. 'DIU is filling a critical national need in meeting mission requirements by executing a more expansive Blue UAS program, and we have valued our partnership with them throughout the verification process.' Black Hornet 4 represents the next generation of lightweight nano-drones, able to provide enhanced covert situational awareness to small fighting units. Its 12-megapixel daytime camera and high-resolution thermal imager deliver crisp video and still images to the operator. At just 70 grams Black Hornet 4 can fly for more than 30 minutes, over three kilometers, and function in 25-knot winds and rain. Flight performance is augmented by advanced obstacle avoidance capabilities and other features. In May, FLIR Defense opened a new 13,000 sq ft facility in Somerset, Kentucky that will function as a major support hub for servicing, testing, and training on Black Hornet systems used by U.S. armed forces. FLIR Defense has delivered more than 33,000 Black Hornet drones to military and security forces in over 45 countries. The U.S. Army began acquiring Black Hornet systems in 2018 for its Soldier Borne Sensor (SBS) program. Since then, it has placed orders under SBS and other contract vehicles totaling more than $300 million. The award-winning Black Hornet is designed and built by Teledyne FLIR Defense in Norway. About Teledyne FLIR Defense Teledyne FLIR Defense has been providing advanced, mission-critical technology and systems for more than 45 years. Our products are on the frontlines of the world's most pressing military, security and public safety challenges. As a global leader in thermal imaging, we design and build sophisticated surveillance sensors for air, land and maritime use. We develop the most rugged, trusted unmanned air and ground platforms, as well as intelligent sensing devices used to detect chemicals, biological agents, radiation and explosives. At Teledyne FLIR Defense we bring together this expertise to deliver solutions that enable critical decisions and keep our world safe – from any threat, anywhere. To learn more, visit us online or follow @flir and @flir_defense. About Teledyne Technologies Teledyne Technologies is a leading provider of sophisticated digital imaging products and software, instrumentation, aerospace and defense electronics, and engineered systems. Teledyne's operations are primarily located in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Western and Northern Europe. For more information, visit Teledyne's website at
Daily Mirror
01-06-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mirror
Brit dad 'caught spying for China' as he 'called Xi Jinping the boss in calls'
John Miller, 63, is accused of conspiring with US-based Chinese national Cui Guanghai, 43 after he was arrested in a sting involving undercover FBI agents A British businessman has been arrested in an alleged Chinese spy plot, and is accused of trying to smuggle sensitive US military technology to Beijing. John Miller, 63, from Tunbridge Wells, Kent, was arrested on April 24 while on a business trip to Belgrade, Serbia, as part of a sting involving undercover FBI agents. Miller is accused of conspiring with US-based Chinese national, Cui Guanghai, 43. If convicted, both men could face up to 40 years in prison. A number of intercepted phone calls showed Miller referred to Chinese leader Xi Jinping as 'The Boss', court documents reportedly allege. The FBI said this demonstrated his 'awareness that he was acting at the direction and control of the [Chinese] government'. Documents filed at the Eastern District Court of Wisconsin in Milwaukee reportedly allege Miller tried to buy military hardware in the US for the People's Liberation Army, including missile launchers, air defence radars and Black Hornet 'microdrone'. Other equipment he allegedly attempted to obtain included a hand-held device for the secure communication of 'classified and sensitive national security information'. The pair are also accused of mounting a surveillance and harassment operation against a Chinese-American artist to stop him from protesting during a visit by Xi to San Francisco in November 2023. US Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said: "The defendants targeted a US resident for exercising his constitutional right to free speech and conspired to traffic sensitive American military technology to the Chinese regime. "This is a blatant assault on both our national security and our democratic values. The Justice Department will not tolerate foreign repression on US soil, nor will we allow hostile nations to infiltrate or exploit our defence systems." Miller and Cui also allegedly hired two people to buy an 'embarrassing' sculpture the artist made to prevent the artist from displaying the work during a protest. But unbeknown to Miller the two people he hired were actually FBI investigators. FBI deputy director Dan Bongino said: "The defendants allegedly plotted to harass and interfere with an individual who criticised the actions of the People's Republic of China while exercising their constitutionally protected free speech rights within the United States of America. The same individuals are also charged with trying to obtain and export sensitive US military technology to China. "I want to commend the good work of the FBI and our partners in the US and overseas in putting a stop to these illegal activities." Court papers claim Miller returned from a trip to China in June 2023 boasting to undercover agents that he had met senior government officials and that the visit 'couldn't have gone better". The two men remain in Serbia and the US is co-ordinating with Serbian officials regarding their pending extraditions. Last night, the Foreign Office said: "We are providing consular assistance to a British national following his arrest in Serbia in April and are in touch with the local authorities and his family."
