At the 10th China (Beijing) Military Intelligent Technology Expo 2025, China surprised the world by introducing a new kind of military drone. These bird-like drones, also called ornithopters, fly by flapping their wings, just like real birds. They are designed to look and move like actual birds, making them very difficult to detect by humans or radar systems.
These drones come in different sizes and shapes. Some are small like magpies, while others are larger and resemble eagles. The purpose of these drones is to carry out secret missions, such as spying, surveillance, and even attacks, without being noticed.
A representative at the expo told China’s state-run Global Times, “People might look up and see what they think is a bird. But in reality, it could be a high-tech surveillance drone transmitting live video.” These drones are designed to look like common birds such as magpies, seagulls, hawks, and eagles. This helps them blend into both cities and natural environments.
The smallest version of these bird drones looks like a magpie and weighs just 90 grams. It is so light and small that it can be launched by hand. It has a tiny camera inside that can send live video during flight. Because it is small and quiet, it is perfect for spying in cities and areas where staying hidden is very important.
These small drones can also fly in groups, which helps the military watch a wide area without being noticed. This group flying is called swarm surveillance and is becoming a popular strategy in modern warfare.
The larger bird drones, such as the ones designed like seagulls and eagles, are built to do more serious work. They can carry small weapons and stay in the air for a longer time. For example, the eagle drone weighs about 3.6 kilograms and has a wingspan of about two meters.
It can fly for around 40 minutes and cover a distance of 6 to 8 kilometers. These bigger drones are not just for spying; they can also carry out attacks using guided weapons.
The most interesting drone shown at the expo was the “Hummingbird” drone. This drone does not flap its wings like a bird but is still small and powerful. It weighs around 10 kilograms and can carry a payload of up to 3 kilograms. This means it can be armed with small bombs like 60 mm or 82 mm mortar shells.
The Hummingbird is designed to be easy to carry and use. A single soldier can carry several of these drones and launch them during missions. This gives small military units the power to attack from the sky without needing support from helicopters or fighter jets.
These new bird-like drones are made from strong but light rubber materials. They can be used again and are easy to repair, which makes them useful for long-term missions. Another benefit is that their design can be changed to match the birds found in different areas. This helps the drones blend into local surroundings, whether in forests, cities, or near the sea.
The main purpose of these ornithopters is to be used in secret missions, psychological operations, and dangerous surveillance missions where regular drones might be too easy to spot. Their ability to look and act like real birds gives them a big advantage in staying hidden.
Along with these new drones, China also showed off new technology designed to fight against enemy drones. One of the highlights was the K-25 remote weapon station. This is a smart machine gun system that can be placed on vehicles or the ground. It uses intelligent fire-control systems to find, track, and shoot down enemy drones.
