China Reveals Bionic Microdrone with AI and Radar-Evading Tech for Covert Surveillance.

On June 20, 2025, China’s National University of Defence Technology (NUDT), located in Hunan province, unveiled a mosquito-sized military microdrone engineered for covert surveillance and espionage operations. As reported by CCTV, this unprecedented nanodrone project represents a new frontier in micro-robotic defense applications, combining cutting-edge bionics, materials science, and miniature propulsion technology. As nations invest heavily in unmanned systems, the Chinese prototype could redefine battlefield reconnaissance and close-proximity intelligence collection. The scale and discretion of this device pose both opportunities and new regulatory dilemmas in military drone development.
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This miniature bionic drone from NUDT signals more than just a technological feat, it illustrates China’s strategic intent to shape the future of ultra-covert, AI-assisted warfare (Picture source: CCTV)

Developed by NUDT’s military robotics team, the microdrone is roughly the size of a mosquito, approximately 1.3 centimeters long, and features a vertical stick-like body with four leaf-like wings capable of mimicking insect flight. Operable via smartphone interface, the drone integrates ultra-miniature cameras and microphones into its structure, allowing it to capture imagery, audio, and even electronic signals. This design, engineered for stealth and maneuverability, enables the device to bypass conventional radar detection systems, making it suitable for entering confined or indoor environments. The prototype also leverages lightweight materials and nano-circuitry, highlighting China’s growing sophistication in microsystems integration.

The development of this drone is part of a broader research trajectory at NUDT, which includes the parallel design of humanoid robots and other bionic UAVs. As demonstrated on CCTV, the system has undergone laboratory testing and limited field trials. According to NUDT student Liang Hexiang, who showcased the device in a televised report, these miniature bionic platforms are especially well-suited for special mission scenarios. While no operational deployment has been confirmed, the drone’s characteristics suggest it is in an advanced prototyping stage and ready for integration into China’s broader ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance) architecture.

Compared to existing micro-UAVs such as Norway’s Teledyne FLIR Black Hornet 4, a palm-sized reconnaissance drone already in service across NATO forces, NUDT’s device offers superior concealability and a closer mimicry of biological movement. However, it likely faces trade-offs in payload capacity, battery endurance, and control stability. The Black Hornet, with a 2 km range and GPS-denied navigation, benefits from hardened military-grade software, whereas NUDT’s bionic approach may rely more heavily on real-time line-of-sight control. While the U.S. RoboBee project focused on dual-terrain (air and water) capabilities, NUDT’s microdrone remains dedicated to urban warfare, close-in ISR, and discreet penetration operations.

The emergence of such a platform could have far-reaching strategic implications. Militarily, the mosquito-drone enhances China’s ability to conduct deniable surveillance, particularly in dense urban or indoor settings where larger drones cannot operate effectively. It opens up new possibilities in special forces operations, target tracking, facility infiltration, and even electronic warfare. Geopolitically, this development reinforces China's ambitions to lead in defense robotics and potentially export disruptive systems to aligned states. It could also escalate competition in microdrone countermeasures, prompting Western militaries to invest in nano-level detection and interception technologies. In asymmetric or hybrid conflicts, these drones may also be deployed for non-lethal effects like psychological operations or electronic eavesdropping.

This miniature bionic drone from NUDT signals more than just a technological feat, it illustrates China’s strategic intent to shape the future of ultra-covert, AI-assisted warfare. While the device is still in a developmental phase, its showcase on national television implies readiness for scaling or military adoption. As defense ecosystems worldwide assess the implications, China’s microdrone underlines the growing convergence between biology-inspired robotics and next-generation intelligence operations.