July 16, 2025: China’s National University of Defense Technology has developed a tiny, mosquito-like drone for stealthy covert land and naval operations. It has two tiny wings that flap to create lift and three hair-thin legs for landing on anything. It may be a while before this drone is operational because there are many problems remaining, like how to create a battery small enough and powerful enough to communicate, operate sensors and incorporate control hardware to keep the drone operational. This drone is a laboratory experiment that exists only in photos. There are no videos showing it in action. While something does exist, it apparently does not work yet, if ever.

There are somewhat larger miniature drones that do work, and thousands have been used by the military for years. One of these is the PD-100. In 2011 Norway introduced this unique system that is a helicopter-type drone small and quiet enough to be used covertly. Black Hornet is a tiny 10x2.5 cm and lightweight 16 g helicopter drone. The rotor diameter is 12 cm. There is also a thermometer, GPS, compass and altitude sensor. Max speed is 10 meters a second, max altitude is about 500 meters and it can hover.

PD-100 has been used in several combat zones including Afghanistan and is operated by the military forces of 19 countries.