Chinese Scientists Create Microdrone for Special Purposes. It's the Size of a Mosquito

The design has two thin wings resembling a small leaf in shape and three extremely delicate "legs". Scientists have also presented a variant equipped with four wings, controlled by a smartphone app. The project is intended as a tool for reconnaissance tasks, but the creators do not rule out wider combat applications.

Miniaturization at the Edge of Possibility

“This requires cooperation between various disciplines, including bionics,” the authors of the concept emphasize, commenting on the scale of engineering challenges that such a large reduction of every part of the flying machine entails. It is necessary to minimize not only the fuselage and wing mechanics, but also the power supply, navigation sensors and control circuits. At this stage, the key is to search for ultralight, yet durable materials and to develop algorithms that, with limited computing power, will allow for stable flight in field conditions.

Norwegian predecessor and world standard

The current reference point in the field of micro-drones for the military remains the PD-100 Black Hornet, a miniature drone manufactured in Norway that is 10 cm long and resembles a miniature helicopter.

It can reconnaissance within a radius of up to 1 km in 25 minutes. For several years now, the Black Hornet has been in service with the German, American, Australian, Norwegian and French armies, and since 2019 it has also been supporting soldiers of the Lubliniec Commando Military Unit. In practice, this means that micro-reconnaissance platforms have entered the everyday arsenal of many NATO armed forces.

Strategic Context and Legal Implications

The emergence of a mosquito-sized drone could significantly change the nature of special operations. A device so small that it becomes almost invisible to the eye, it opens the way to penetrate heavily protected facilities, including administrative buildings and enemy military infrastructure. At the same time, it reinforces the legal dilemma related to identifying targets and liability for the actions of autonomous systems.

Experts in the law of armed conflict point out that microdrones can carry small explosive devices or electronics jammers, complicating the classic distinction between defensive and offensive weapons.

Prospects for further development

Although the Chinese prototype is still in the demonstration phase, the scale of the research investment suggests a rapid pace of progress. If Hunan engineers can solve the problem of long-term power supply in a small body, while maintaining flight stability in strong gusts of wind, a new generation of devices common to the military, rescue and law enforcement agencies will appear on the horizon. Potential applications include not only direct support of units on the battlefield, but also: monitoring natural disasters, searching for missing persons in hard-to-reach areas.

The economic aspect is also important. Manufacturing millimeter-scale drones requires advanced assembly lines and extremely precise components, which can drive up costs.

At the same time, the mass adoption of such designs by a global technology powerhouse will naturally increase the pressure on competing manufacturers in Europe and North America. The race for the smallest and most reliable drone is already underway — and the mosquito-sized drone shown on TV cameras may be just the beginning of this evolution.

New technology, new doctrines

The introduction of microdrones will also force a correction in military tactics. Instead of individual large unmanned units, there will be a swarm of mini-platforms that commanders will have to manage in real time.

Soft-kill skills are also coming into play—drone detection and neutralization systems, which have so far focused primarily on larger structures. The answer to the machine’s mosquitoes could be acoustic sensor networks, short-range radar antennas, or even specialized protective fabrics for personnel, experts note.

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