To take the edge of invisibility in aerial warfare, China has unveiled various unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), commonly known as drones, at the 10th China (Beijing) Military Intelligent Technology Expo (CMITE 2025)
Among the wide range of systems unveiled, one category stood out in concept and capability: bird-mimicking drones.
Also known as ornithopters, these drones are designed for reconnaissance, infiltration, and direct engagement roles.
Unlike traditional rotary or fixed-wing UAVs, ornithopters replicate the wing-flapping flight dynamics of actual birds, achieving near-perfect biomimicry.
The result is a drone system visually indistinguishable from fauna, enabling it to evade detection by human observers and most conventional radar systems.
The representatives at the expo told China’s state-run Global Times that these ornithopters are being developed in various avian forms, including magpies, seagulls, hawks, and eagles, each tailored to specific operational profiles.
The smallest variant, resembling a magpie, weighs 90 grams and can be hand-launched.
Despite its compact size, it has a micro camera that delivers live surveillance feeds.
With a short but tactically significant endurance, it is ideal for urban reconnaissance and forward observation missions where remaining unnoticed is critical.
This micro-drone will be deployed in swarm configurations to saturate enemy surveillance and provide persistent situational awareness.
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