Chinese Sea Dragon Commandos Show Off Drones That Look Just Like Birds
China's Jiaolong Commandos have demonstrated bird-like drones for covert surveillance and potential attacks. These biomimetic drones enhance military operations, offering advantages in reconnaissance while resembling real birds.
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Members of China's Jiaolong Commandos, a maritime special operations unit, have recently showcased bird-like drones in videos that have gained attention on social media. These drones, which mimic the appearance and flight of birds, are part of a broader trend in biomimetic uncrewed aerial systems (UAS) that could enhance military operations by enabling covert surveillance and potential kamikaze attacks with reduced detection risk. The videos depict commandos launching various sizes of these drones, including smaller models resembling sparrows and larger ones akin to ravens.
The Jiaolong Commandos, akin to the U.S. Navy SEALs, are tasked with maritime operations, including ship boarding and combat diving, and have a history of successful missions, such as evacuating nationals from Yemen in 2015. The use of bird-like drones could provide significant advantages in reconnaissance and situational awareness, as they can carry cameras and possibly small explosive payloads, making them difficult to distinguish from real birds.
The concept of using biomimetic drones is not new, with historical precedents like the CIA's Project Aquiline. The development of such technologies continues globally, with interest in various biomimetic capabilities for military applications. The recent videos highlight the potential operational use of these drones by the Jiaolong Commandos, although the extent of their deployment remains unclear.
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